This lesson teaches camera shot sizes — wide shot (WS), medium shot (MS), close-up (CU) — by having students identify and create each in a three-panel storyboard.
Subject: Film / Media / Visual Literacy · Grade: 5–12 · Time: 30–40 minutes
Learning objectives
- Define wide shot, medium shot and close-up
- Identify how shot size affects meaning and emotion
- Create a three-panel sequence that varies shot size for effect
Materials
- Classic layout with three cells in Storyboard Creator
- A short film clip or commercial (2–3 minutes)
- Classroom library filter on
Lesson steps
1. Introduce shot sizes (5 min)
Draw three boxes on the board:
Explain: shot size tells the audience what to pay attention to. Wide = context. Medium = conversation. Close-up = feeling.
| Shot | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Wide shot (WS) | The whole scene — geography, setting, all characters |
| Medium shot (MS) | Waist-up — dialogue, interaction |
| Close-up (CU) | Face or object — emotion, detail |
2. Watch and identify (10 min)
Play a short film clip or commercial. Pause after each shot. Ask: what shot size is this? WS, MS or CU?
Tally on the board. Notice: which shot size appears most often? Why?
3. Board a sequence (15 min)
Open Storyboard Creator. Pick the Classic layout with three cells. Students create a three-panel sequence that uses all three shot sizes:
Students draw or drop library characters into each cell. Label the shot size below each panel (WS, MS, CU).
| Panel | Shot size | Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wide shot | Where are we? Who is here? |
| 2 | Medium shot | What are they doing or saying? |
| 3 | Close-up | What are they feeling or what detail matters? |
4. Share and discuss (5 min)
Pairs compare boards. Discuss: how did the shot size change what the audience pays attention to?
Differentiation
- Younger students: Use two panels (wide, close-up) instead of three
- Older students: Add a fourth panel with an extreme close-up (ECU) or a bird's-eye view
- Advanced students: Discuss why a director might choose MS over CU in a specific moment
Printable version
Use the classic worksheet template or print a blank storyboard template with three panels.