• TTP sponsors a field trip for each participating class to attend a photography exhibit at a local museum (this year, the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum). LTP challenges students to push their photography beyond posed snapshots of family members and friends, and begin thinking about the messages and emotions that their photos can convey.
• The students each receive a camera and a roll of film, which they use, with the help of their families, to take pictures that relate to a given theme: family, self, community, or dreams.
• Once the photographs are developed, the students pick one photograph to write about under the guidance of their teachers.
• The class peer edits the first drafts of the works, and revises their work.
• The final drafts, along with an enlarged copy of the photograph, are mounted and displayed for everyone to enjoy!
• Each school hosts its own exhibit opening, featuring student performances and presentations, teacher comments, refreshments, and a gallery viewing for family and community members to enjoy.

Gibbs students check out the exhibits from Spring 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LTP Traveling Exhibit

The Literacy Through Photography traveling exhibit, featuring more than 50 student photographs and writing pieces, travels to notable sites around D.C. each year.

Members from the DC. community, as well as DCPS students, families, and teachers, have been able to view the student work, and will continue to do so as the exhibit travels throughout the city.

 

The Phillips Collection

Turning the Page has collaborated with The Phillips Collection to bring a professional development opportunity to our partner schools' teachers: the award winning classroom program, Art of the City.

Because city subjects hold such immediate relevance to the lives of urban children, the Art of the City program uses images of urban life contained in the museum’s collection to help make modern art accessible to young viewers. The curriculum focuses primarily on twentieth century American painters, including prominent African American artists such as Jacob Lawrence, and emphasizes making links between art and literacy. Each participating teacher received a package with approximately 20 color reproductions of Art of the City paintings from the Phillips Collection, posters, slides, a notebook full of resource information and educational materials, and a variety of art supplies to complete the classroom community project.

For additional information about Turning the Page's extensive collaboration with The Phillips Collection, please visit the Museum Partnerships section of our website and read about our joint family workshop, Art Links to Literacy.

For more information on The Phillips Collection, please visit their website: http://www.phillipscollection.org

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

In 2006, Turning the Page and the National Air and Space Museum partnered together to bring the excitement of the famous museum into the classrooms of TTP's partner schools. Experts from the museum, along with TTP staff, worked with participating teachers to create fun and educational classroom projects for the students. Each class also took a private tour of the museum, including a trip inside the planetarium.

For the 2007-2008 school year, this partnership will combine the hands on exhibits at the museum with classroom learning, focusing on space, and in particular, space flight. Projects will culminate in the Spring, with Kite Day.

Learn more about Turning the Page's other initiatives and programs:

» Families Learning Together
» School Community Leadership

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