Toni Thompson
Using Photographs to Spark Personal Narrative
Important moments in our lives are often captured in
photographs. By viewing these photographs, we often remember
more details about events and people. They are an effective way
to inspire compelling narratives. This lesson allows students to
use their personal photographs in order to write a narrative story
and create a digital media piece.
Intentions
Students are going to write a personal narrative and create a Digital Story about one of
the following:
Types of Digital Stories
1. Someone Important to you
2. An Important Event in your Life
a. Adventure
b. Accomplishment
3. An Important Place in your Life
4. About what you do or passions you may have
Pre Writing Activities
1. Have students bring in a few photographs that have some special
meaning to them. If they cannot find a picture at home, search the
Internet for pictures that are similar to a place/event in their
memory. Tell them to “Think about important events that you
have gone through in your life (first recital, graduation,
sporting competitions, birthdays, family vacations, you and
your best friend).”
2. Read an example of a personal narrative (Owl Moon, Not My Girl) or provide
the students with some sample written by former students. Hint: make sure to
keep several samples for future classes.
3. Brainstorm what are the characteristics of a Personal Narrative.
4. Using Pages/Google Doc, students will write for about 10 minutes about
their photographs. While they are writing, you can ask several questions:
Who is in the photographs? When were the photographs taken?
What was happening in the photographs?
5. After the journal writing is completed, ask several volunteers to briefly
describe their photographs.
Adapted from http://www.mnps.org/assetfactory.aspx?did=54565
http://interactive-image.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/storytelling-cookbook.pdf
Toni Thompson
6. Have students choose one photograph, which will be the topic of their digital
story. Have them decide which of types of digital stories they are going to write
(i.e. Someone Important to them)
7. With a/b Partners, interview
each other using Camera on
iPad to record interview.
Interviewer uses partner’s iPad
and Questions from below.
Switch.
Writing
8. Students review Recorded Interview and begin to organize their story in either
Inspirations or Comic Life Storyboard. This activity involves
making a timeline for the student's photographs. While putting
together their timeline ask them to make sure to describe the
photograph fully and to explain the photograph's importance on
their lives so that other readers will understand what prompted the
reflective response.
9. In Book Creator, have students create an Audio Book with
text, pictures, graphics, drawing and audio.
10. Share Book into iBooks.
11. Extension/Adaption Create an iMove
Adapted from http://www.mnps.org/assetfactory.aspx?did=54565
http://interactive-image.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/storytelling-cookbook.pdf
Toni Thompson
Adapted from http://www.mnps.org/assetfactory.aspx?did=54565
http://interactive-image.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/storytelling-cookbook.pdf
Toni Thompson
Types of Narratives and Interview Questions
Important Person
A tribute to someone you love or admire, past or present
 What is or had been your relationship to this person?
 How would you describe this person (physical appearance,
character, etc.)?
 Is there an event/incident that best captures their character?
 What about them do / did you most enjoy?
 What about them drives you crazy?
 What lesson did they give you that you feel is important?
 If you had something to say to them, that they may have never
heard you say, what would it be?
An Event in Your Life (Adventure/Accomplishment)
An adventure or trip
An accomplishment
 What was the event (time, place, incident, or series of
incidents)?
 What about it did you most enjoy? Hate?
 What was your part/relationship to the event?
 With whom did you experience this event?
 Was there a defining moment in the event?
 How did you feel during this event (fear, exhilaration,
sharpened awareness, joy...)?
 How did this event change your life?
 How did you feel when it was over?
 Would you change anything if you could?
 What did you learn about yourself or what did the event teach
you?
Places in your Life
Write about your current home (room) an ancestral home, a town, a park, a
mountain or forest you love, a restaurant, store, or gathering place.

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
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How would you describe the place?
With whom did you share this place?
What general experiences do you relate to this place?
Was there a defining experience at the place?
What lessons about yourself do you draw from your
relationship to this place?
 If you have returned to this place, how has it changed?
What you do or passions you have
Adapted from http://www.mnps.org/assetfactory.aspx?did=54565
http://interactive-image.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/storytelling-cookbook.pdf
Toni Thompson
Write about your current home (room) an ancestral home, a town, a park, a
mountain or forest you love, a restaurant, store, or gathering place.
 What is your profession or ongoing interest?
 What experiences, interests, and/or knowledge in your past
prepared you for this activity?
 Was there an initial event that most affected your decision to
pursue this interest?
 Who influenced or assisted you in shaping your interest, or
skill in this area?
 How has your profession or interest affected your life as a
whole (family, friends, where you live)?
 What has been the highlight of your interest?
Adapted from http://www.mnps.org/assetfactory.aspx?did=54565
http://interactive-image.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/storytelling-cookbook.pdf