Family Photo Project

Discussion Guide

The Family Photo Project provides an opportunity to consider the diversity within the Walden School community. It encourages us to ask questions, to discuss similarities and differences, and to develop a framework for talking about our own family and other families. View the photos that line the hallways of both school buildings. Take time to look at the portraits and read what families say about themselves.

Choose three or four photos to examine closely. Here are some questions to discuss with children:

• What do you see?
• What are some things these families have in common?
• What differences do you see?
• How are these families like yours?
• How are they different from yours?
• What makes a family?
• What is “family diversity?” What kinds of families do you see in these photos?
• Why do you think there are so many different kinds of families?
• What kind of family would you like to have when you grow up?
• What aspects of family life are not reflected in these photos?
• In looking at the pictures, what would you like to ask each family?
• What do these pictures tell you about Walden and its community?
• What do you see as the value of the Family Photo Project?

This may be an occasion to introduce your children to such terms as adoption, blended family, divorce, extended family, interracial family, same-sex parents,single-parent family, stepbrother or stepsister, stepparent. These terms can help children find the words to describe what they see and can help adults give direct answers to children’s questions.