Identity and Difference through Snapchat Filters

Area: History and Social Studies

Grade Level: Primary/Elementary School

Topics: difference, otherness, social identity, social perception

Estimated Time Necessary: This lesson can take from 60 to 75 minutes

Lesson Attachment: Gadamer-quote.pdf

Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students read images

Students can compare images of themselves with and without snapchat filters and can explain the difference and connect it to the theme of the discussion

Students examine concepts of social perception, personal identity -

students discuss in relation to the pictures what makes them themselves and what makes them the same as others

Students discuss personal growth

- students consider ideas of development and growth as remaining the same while also changing. several connection to personal experience are made-

This lesson is for a fifth grade class. The teacher asks children to bring to school an object which they think represents them. Then the teacher takes two pictures for each child: (a) one picture of the child next to her object, and (b) one without the object. Photos are divided in two groups: one is prepared by adding a snapchat filter to make them all pictures (a) look similar. The other is comprised of pictures (b) just showing children’s faces next to the object they picked.

The teacher projects pictures from the two groups to children ( in Italy classrooms have a smartboard that allows for this use). Children watch in silence.

After viewing the slideshow, children are asked to pair up and generate one comment or question that they write on an index card.

The facilitator collects their cards and reads them. Hopefully most questions will be found in the cards themselves. The facilitator has also prepared a discussion list that she can draw on in case questions from the group are not very fruitful (but we trust they will!)

Children have a 40 minute dialogue facilitated by the teacher.

In conclusion, children are asked whether they would like to print the snapchat filter picture of themselves or the one with their object. Elena (one of the two authors) taught this lesson a few times with her fifth grades and invariably, most children choose the one without filter.

EXPAND TOOL TEXT

Video

https://vimeo.com/378113496

Discussion Questions

1.What makes me unique? what makes me same as others? 2. Would I rather be with someone who is like me or with someone who is different from me? 3. In order to grow up, is it better to be oneself or to try and assimilate to others? 4. Are there words which unite and words which divide? 5. Do I have a duty to recognize that which is common between myself and someone considered “different”? 6. Does dialogue always lead to mutual understanding? What kinds of understanding can dialogue facilitate? Are there any limitations to dialogue? 7. Do technologies like Snapchat help or hinder genuine mutual recognition? 8. What type of social dispositions make it possible to live with others who are different? 9. Is Dialogue only through words? Can we think of other ways to be in dialogue with someone that do not require words?

This lesson plan was created for PLATO by: Elena Pellegrini, Cristina Cammarano - , Istituto Comprensivo G. Bortolotti Gavardo, BS, Italia ; Salisbury University, MD.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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