Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Home! Youth Source - Youth & Heritage learning source

Home > Teacher Resources > Photography: Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Using Historical Photographs

Students analyze historical photographs.

Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts

Grade Levels: 4-9

Time Frame: 3 class periods

Materials Needed:

Photographs of notable historical figures, places or events.
Reference Materials
Instructions on Analyzing Photographs (Worksheet)

Learning Objectives: Students will:

Understand how visual images contribute to our interpretation of people, places and events.
Systematically analyze a photograph to gather data.
Make inferences from photographic data.
Research the subject of the photograph to justify inferences.

Procedure:

1. Display photographs to students on overhead screen/computer screen.

2. Provide students with instructions on analyzing photographs.

3. Instruct students to list qualities and characteristics possessed in each photograph by using the analyzing photographs worksheet.

4. Direct students to research the subject matter in their chosen photograph. Each student or group is to research the historical information in their photographs and to report their findings to the class.

5. Instruct students to make a list on large paper to save and display in the classroom.

6. After the reports are shared, have students return to the original list of attributes they developed from analyzing the photograph.

How many of these qualities were verified by their research? Direct students to refer to specific historical events to support their conclusions.

Analyzing a Photograph

Observation

Study the photograph for 2 minutes.
Form an overall impression of the photograph and then examine individual items.
Divide the photo (if possible) into quadrants (4 parts) and study each section to see what new details become visible.

Use the chart below to list people, objects and activities in the photograph.

People	Objects	Activities

Inferences

Based on what you have observed above, list 3 things you might conclude from this photograph.

Questions

What do I exactly see in the photos?
What has changed since the photographs were taken?
What has stayed the same?
What can you tell about the ways life then was different from life now?
When do you think these photos were taken? Why do you think so?
In what ways does this photo summerize what was happening at the time they were taken?
What are your impressions based on the photo?

Photography Unit