April 2, 2019 - During the month of February, Teena Starchman's third and fourth graders at Sierra Foothill Charter School studied photographer Dorothea Lange as their artist of the month. Dorothea Lange was famous for the images she captured during the Great Depression.

Students first read a book about her life and took notes in their Artist of the Month notebooks. Ms. Starchman asked Cara Goger, who is a photographer, the Executive Director of the Mariposa County Arts Council, and SFCS parent, to come in and present a lesson on Dorothea Lange. Ms. Goger showed students a slideshow of Lange's images during the Great Depression and discussed camera angels and artistic choices. Later, Ms. Goger came back and worked with students in small groups. She helped them take photos with her camera in the style of Dorothea Lange. Ms. Goger brought famous Dorothea Lange photos for students to recreate. Each student took a turn taking a photo of the student models. In the next few weeks, these photos will be printed, matted, signed by students, and hung up in Ms. Starchman's classroom for students and visitors to see and enjoy.
Cara Goger, who is a photographer, the Executive Director of the Mariposa County Arts Council, and SFCS parent, came to Ms. Starchman's classroom to present a lesson on Dorothea Lange. Visible are Deacon Lopes, Aurora Tyrosvoutis, David Barrena, Jane Adcock, Khloe Reynolds, Sawyer Newsome, and Tyson Shelby.
During another visit, Ms. Goger worked with students in small groups, helping them recreate famous photos by Dorothea Lange using her camera. Here are Payton Totten, Khloe Reynolds, Yannick Lipsey, Daniel Specht, Westley Sheffield, and Irie Jones.
Here are the same students in the finished photo.
Devon Foster poses in another Dorothea Lange inspired photo taken by a classmate.

Sierra Foothill Charter School is a free, non-profit, TK-8 public school. For the 2018-2019 school year, space is currently available in grades TK, 5, 8, and the Home School program. Open enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year is happening now through April 10. For more information, contact the office at (209) 742-6222 or visit SFCS’s website: SierraFoothillCharterSchool.org. To stay up to date on all the latest happenings, “like” SFCS on Facebook.

Source: Sierra Foothill Charter School