Lesson 2: Using Historical Photographs (Part 2)

Students explore the value and power of photographs.

Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts

Grade Levels: 4-9

Time Frame: 2 class periods

Materials Needed:

• Photographs of people, places or events.

• Reference Materials

• Questions to Answer Worksheet

Learning Objectives: Students will:

1. Visualize major aspects of urbanization and understand how city dwellers experienced them.

2. Identify the "point of view" of a photograph collection, and take this into account in using photos as historical data.

Procedure:

1. In pairs, have students choose an aspect of urbanization to examine:

• Industrial Work

• Commercial and Office Work

• Immigrant Life

• Leisure and Amusement

• Public Streets

• Natural and Historic Landmarks

2. Using the available photographic resources, have students find 5 to 6 photos that portray a range of experiences or perspectives on this aspect of city life. E.g. Pictures of men, women and children doing industrial work; industrialization in a positive or negative light.

3. With their partner, have students discuss what the photos tell them about the aspect of urbanization they have chosen. Have students answer the Questions to Answer worksheet.

4. Follow up questions to consider for discussion:
o What problems/issues arose in searching the online collection?
o What views of urbanization are revealed in the photos each group chose? Have each group share their findings.
o What is the online collection's overall viewpoint or bias on the subjects depicted?
o What questions should be kept in mind using photos as historical data?

Questions to Answer

Observation:

• What exactly do I see in the photos?

Knowledge:

• What do I know about this aspect of urbanization?

• How does the information presented in the photos fit with what I know?

• Are there surprises? Things missing?

Interpretation:

• Based on what we see here, what is the perspective on this aspect of urbanization? (city perspective, country, institutions, etc.)

• What might explain this perspective?
  (Background information on photos)

Questions:

• What else do you want or need to know about the photos, or the historical period, to evaluate these photos as historical data?

Photography Unit

Lesson 2: Using Historical Photographs Part 2

Students explore the value and power of photographs.

Photograph Collections: 
Glenbow Archives Photographs
http://ww2.glenbow.org/search/archivesPhotosSearch.aspx

Louise Mckinney Riverfront Photo Gallery
(not available at this time)
http://www.louisemckinneyriverfront.com/sub_pages/
Flood of 1915, Ice making, Coal & gold mining, Brickyards, Other industries, Bridges, Boats & boat building, First Nations People, Recreation and Louise McKinney

National Archives of Canada
http://www.archives.ca/
Living Memory, Places, People, and Aboriginal Peoples

Alberta Home, Home on the Plains 
http://www.abheritage.ca/pasttopresent/
Land of Opportunity, Settlement History or Rural Life

Alberta How the West Was Young
http://www.abheritage.ca/alberta/
Archaeology & Pre-Contact, First Nations & Métis, or Fur Trade & Mission History

Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
http://civilization.ca/
Archaeology, Civilizations, Cultures, First Peoples, History, and Military History

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Lesson 1: Using Historical Photographs

Lesson 2: Using Historical Photographs 2

Lesson 3: Using Specific Historical Photographs

Lesson 4: Using Photographs to Time Travel

Lesson 5: Photographic History Timeline

Lesson 6: Manipulating Photographs

Lesson 7: To Censor or Not? The Power of War Photographs

Download Lesson 2 in Word Document format.