Do these 2.5 hours per day include them taking pictures? My advice will not be "what to include" but how to develop this course (and decide what to include).
A) What time budget do you have exactly? 2.5 hours x 5 x 4? That's 50 hours.
What do you have to cover with that?
1 theory
2 quick exercise / handling of devices (camera, layout software..)
3 quick pictures in classroom or direct environnment + quick feedback
4 real assignement / detailed feedback?
B) Which areas do you want to cover? How do you spread the time budget?
I would start with the following time budget (not chronological).
- 1 week for photography basics (theory + exercise)
- 1/2 week for advanced photography (theory + exercise)
- 1 week for graphic design basics (theory + exercise)
- 1/2 week for advanced graphic design (theory + exercise)
- 1 week for a "big assignement", mixing photography and graphic design, to allow the student to integrate all the notions, and conclude with a kind of personal portfolio.
As mentioned, this should not be chronological. focus the first week on basic photography, then second week: basic graphic design, then advanced photo and graphic design for 3/4 week... in parallel with the "big assignement".
Example: Big assignement:
For example, each Friday is dedicated to the "big assignement". They will develop their project as they learn and develop their skills. It takes time to mature something personal.
The first week, they gather their idea, decide on a general project (alone or maybe by 2 or groups? Depends on the total size of the group). The Friday of the second week, they come up with the pictures, the Friday of the third week, with the layout (graphic design) and the conclude the integration on the Thursday of the last week.
Keep the last course for an event and general presentation (invite guest, a local photographer, the parents...)
C) What are the objectives for each area?
Setting up clear objectives will of course help you developing the course, the students to focus on the important to learn, and will help you perform fair and useful evaluation (if needed).
Example: Photography Basics
Objectives:
Theory:
- have some notions of origin and history of photography
- some theory of light
- some theory of lens
- basic principle of 'camera obscura'
- typical camera architecture (film and/or digital)
- main specifications of an image and a file, especially digital (color depth, resolution,...)
- general rules of exposition
- general rules of composition (depth of field, 2/3, negative space, ...)
Exercise (try to find an exercise for each theory item):
- find a book or very old picture that illustrates an important step of history of photography
- make a picture of a rainbow, or any evidence of light phenomena blabla
- take pictures illustrating various exposition, composition...
Repeat and develop for advanced photography, graphic design (font, typography, layout, color and printing process...)
Another idea: you can also include in your course a visit to an exhibition or a guest speaker (a photographer, a graphic designer from the local newspaper, etc..)
I would love to have to do that! Wish you good luck and don't hesitate to keep us informed...