SNAP Students as a mission of inspiration and prevention through the enhancement of K-12 education. SNAP Students helps young people across the U.S. by supplying educators with cameras, film developing and a variety of visual literacy lesson plans. SNAP Students builds critical thinking skills in kids as they reflect on the things they value, document their lives, and tell their stories to the world.
How To Bring SNAP Students Program
to Your Classroom
Please include:
a. An estimate of the number of students that will participate.
b. The school name.
c. Address (no PO boxes please).
d. Phone number.
e. Primary contact and of course their email address.
At the end of the project, each school is expected to send a minimum of 4 finished deliverables that represent the work of our students (just 4 total per school not 4 per student).
SNAP Projects Are Very Easy To Set In Motion!
Getting Started
1. Students will brainstorm what they love and value in life.
Build categories such as persons, places and things with an eye on photography.
Make a list of these items for the students to reference in their photo shoot.
2. Students will take pictures and document the items found on the brainstorm list. Give them the flexibility to add ideas as they proceed. (Our experience tells us that cameras must be used outside of school to increase the variety of photo opportunities).
You may want to consider parent permission slips to participate.
Film Processing …. Cameras can be processed at a local retail store. Processing cost will have to be provided by the school or the student. We are very sorry but due to the number of students we have nationally SNAP can not pay for film processing.
One camera per student ONLY, and their name or teachers name plus the complete school address“ MUST” be on their processing envelope. This will reduce the chances for lost photos.
After the Pictures have been taken:
1. Write Essays
Students will write essays that contrast their lives as they are today, as shown in the pictures, with their visions for a positive future.
a. Optional: This optional SNAP activity offers students a platform to voice their feelings and suggest solutions to current events and/or issues that plague our society. Students should be given the freedom to choose subjects that they feel passionate about or have affected them personally. They can discuss in their report how and why they or others have been affected and explore remedies and/or solutions.
2. Create A Life Plan (Think Art and “Computer Aided Research ”)
Students may combine computer research, news and magazine clippings, photos found during internet-research, etc. This portion of SNAP can be
an individual, team, or total class project.
a. Students create a life plan with poster art, collages, timelines etc. that show the students life as it is today and a path to the future. "Begin with the end in mind" (Steven Covey) Envision a successful future and create a photographic time line of this future. This think art portion may include colleges they will attend, places they will visit, causes they will fight for, sports and arts they will participate in, courses they will take, careers they will have, friends they will meet, homes they will buy, etc.
b. Ideas for other think art projects can show the effects of; current events, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, absentee parents, children having children, child abuse, prejudice, war, conflict, terrorism, and poverty can have on our daily lives.
3. Participate in School SNAP shows and National SNAP Exhibits
a. Put the Students work on center stage by having a SNAP Show at your school.
b. Select the best representative artwork from each category and send them to SNAP by the specified return date to be added to our National exhibits.
c. Money to allow students and chaperones to attend any one of the National SNAP Exhibits can be earned by creating a SNAP fundraiser. We have companies on board willing to assist you to get the most from time invested. For more information on fundraising opportunities contact SNAP: 585-726-7774.
d. VISIT OUR NATIONAL SHOWS. (Date, time, and place, TBD)
4. Send SNAP Three Deliverables
At the end of the school SNAP Project each school will be asked to submit a minimum of three deliverables. The method used for selection of each deliverable is left up to the participating school. Deliverables are three per-school, and are as follows:
1. The most creative photograph.
2. The most creative essay.
3. The most creative life plan from the “Think Art” portion of SNAP.
“The Point-and-Shoot Cameras are working wonderfully. SNAP has helped a number of kids on campus, and we are getting ready to expand the program. Our discipline problems have decreased, as has our absentees and tardiness. It seems that the cameras have given the kids a sense of purpose and control in their environment.”
-Arthur Ball. Principle of Sepulveda Middle School, North Hills, California
