Photographs that Changed the World

Level: Secondary --- Content: Social Studies

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Mr. Porter is a secondary school world history teacher. He believes that it is important to use primary source materials in his teaching and frequently shows his students maps, photographs, documents, and other objects that were created when the events he is teaching about took place. To help the students understand the importance of these documents and how to use them, he frequently starts the year with a unit on “Photographs that changed the World.”

Mr. Porter starts the unit by asking them to recall the photographs or videos of current events that had a big impact on them. Many recall videos of the World Trade Towers falling in New York City or the tsunami in Indonesia. They discuss what makes these pictures meaningful to them. He then uses Internet resources to show them historic photographs of wars, famines, or events around the world since the beginning of photography. Although many of them are striking, the students do not have the knowledge to appreciate the events they portray or their point of view.

In order to understand the importance of background knowledge in interpreting photographs or writing, Mr. Porter then has the students conduct research on some famous photographs. Each groups of three to four students selects a photograph and uses Internet resources to identify the photograph and determine where it was taken.

They also discuss these questions:
1. What is the significance of the photograph?
2. What is the significance of the place where the photograph was taken?
3. Discuss how this photograph could have influenced an event in history or public opinion?
4. What does the research say about this photograph? Cite that research.
5. Does the photograph’s influence continue or was it only powerful during the time that it was taken?

The students use their research to complete a PowerPoint presentation about their photographs and the events and perspectives they represent. After each group presents, students in the audience use Poll Everywhere to provide feedback about the presentation.

Mr. Porter then asks the group to act as reporters and create a blog about a current world event. They describe the event and select photographs or video to illustrate the event being sure to cite their sources for information and media. For each photograph or video, the students answer the following questions:

Why did you select this photograph?

Does it only represent one point of view?

What is happening outside of the photograph’s frame that might alter its significance?

Members of each group use the blog to comment on other groups’ reporting, focusing on how well the blog communicates details of the event and whether or not it appears to be biased in favor of one perspective on the event.

Resources used in this scenario:
Primary source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/6152050/Ten-photographs-that-changed-the-world.html

Tools used in this scenario
Document Creation and Publication: Glogster http://www.glogster.com/  PowerPoint

Audience response tools: Glogster http://www.glogster.com/  Poll Everywhere http://www.polleverywhere.com/