Lesson: Reading a Photograph

Age: 4th grade and up

KERA: 1.3, 1.11, 1.16, 2.16, 2.18, 5.2, 5.3, 6.2, 6.3

Objectives: Explore how photographs can provide visual histories of the past, understand the importance of photography in documenting events, and develop observation skills.

Lesson Description: This exercise may used in conjunction with units on a variety of topics from different historical periods. You may also wish to use paintings or illustrations with this exercise. As preparation, students should be familiar with the historical period of the selected images.

Instructions: Display the photograph(s) or image(s) to the students and ask them to examine them closely for several minutes. Have students answer the following questions orally or on a piece of paper:

Who? Are there people in the photo? How many? What do they look like? Describe their clothing. What are they doing? Can you make out any facial expressions? What can you tell about them?

What? What is happening in the photo? Are there objects or things in the photo that can tell you? Is it an event or a portrait?

Where? Where was this picture taken? Are there any clues in the surroundings?

When? When was this picture taken? Does the color or style of the photo give you a clue? Are there clues in people's clothing, objects, or behavior?

Why? Why was this picture taken? Do you know who the photographer was? Can you guess? Did they have a purpose in mind? Put yourself in their shoes.

Follow-up activities: Have students construct a photo essay that focuses on a special event in their own lives. Using their photographs, have students arrange and write separate labels for each photograph as they would a museum exhibit. Have students give a "tour" of their exhibit explaining why they chose that event and certain pictures and what significance the photographs have for them. Have students keep a short journal record of the experience of compiling their photographic exhibit.

**If photography equipment is available to all students, older students could be required to create a photographic documentary of one day in their lives. This could also be done as a group project in which students document a particular event or topic in their community using photography. This an excellent way for students to become more aware of their school, neighborhood, city, or county.