PHOTOGRAPHY, POETRY, MUSIC and ENERGY CONSERVATION at VALLE VISTA SCHOOL

Project Goal

In March of 2004, musician, photographer and poet Tony O’Brien began an energy conservation project with 4th and 5th grade students at Valle Vista Elementary School, Delano, California. His goal was both to create a basic awareness and understanding of the finite aspects of energy usage in everyday life; and to show the distinction between natural and artificial energy.

Picturing  Energy

All 25 students received their own disposable 27-frame 35mm camera with flash, 400 ASA color film, and instructions on proper usage. They were instructed then to go out into their community and photograph what they perceived as examples of energy use. The students also toured the school with Mr. O’Brien in search of energy in use. Frequent subjects were light poles, computers, radios, televisions, stop lights. However, such subjects as laundry blowing on a clothesline were also used. "The kids were putting a lot of heart and soul into it," Vice Linda Principal Enriquez reported. She said they 'teamworked' often and asked her and other teachers frequently about moving objects and the nature of the energy causing the motion. "They really enjoyed [O’Brien’s] visits and were really enthused."

Discussion

Two weeks later the cameras were turned in. After the photographs were developed, Mr. O’Brien initiated discussions with the students about the images and how they felt they related to energy and energy conservation as it pertained to family, friends and school facilities. During the course of his visits, Mr. O’Brien brought a variety of different formats of cameras to demonstrate to the students, thus extending their knowledge of photography. Similarly, he would bring different sized saxophones to the classroom. These he played for the children while they worked.

Exhibit

The school cafeteria was used as an art gallery. Parents and teachers assisted in the mounting and hanging of approximately 500 energy photographs taken during the first part of the project.

Song

Using the discussions he held with the students, Mr. O’Brien evaluated their understanding of energy conservation and initiated his next step. He had students write new words to “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music. A form was used retaining key words from the original lyric and blanks for energy items the children would fill in. To do this, students referred to their photographs augmented by a worksheet and, at first, a good deal of coaching from Mr. O’Brien.

For example, Cynthia Perez wrote: Food in the microwave and cakes in ovens/Energy transport from wire to poles/Computers that work and cell phones that ring/These are a few of my favorite things.

Karen Valencia Trujillo wrote: Music on radio and door bells on doors/ Computers on tables and fingers with rings/When the lights are off and is dark/These are a few of my favorite things.

Each students version of the song was unique.

Recording

Next, a Roland VS-2480 Digital recorder and a condenser microphone were brought into the classroom. Each of the students recorded a recitation of their version of "Favorite Things." A CD of the sequenced performances was made for each student. These they could share with other students, faculty, friends and family. Finally, on May 21, students invited parents and community to view their photographs and hear "Some of Their Favorite Things." Mr. O’Brien also gave the students a concert of his own saxophone playing including, of course, his take on the Miles Davis arrangement of "Favorite Things." The children took their energy photographs home along with the CDs.