About This Lesson
Please use these incredible photos for a variety of learning objectives. I was trying to revamp an historically inaccurate background piece for a commercial lesson. It happened to be a hard time period in history for all Americans. I wanted to improve the lesson with more accurate real photos of the children living through the 1930- early1940. Because we are social isolated and I am home bound, I could not get my photos and documents I like most to use. With that thought and my earlier one, wanting to further provide support for my To Kill A Mockingbird lesson and decided to research and pull photos from FDR, NARA, Library of Congress, etc... How do you say primary source nerd. So I adore the National Archives.... This is a collection of pictures from US during this time. Sadly these are not the best of this vast resource, but I wanted to get these out so you could use them. I have copies the photo labels exactly as they are filed. I have my moments of discomfort with this, but I want you to be able to get the pictures again if you need them. I have made the labels small. I actually do my live classroom with them covered as the kids make labels and summaries for the photos after learning more of the history of the location and time of the photo. The following is exactly from the Library of Congress about these photos:
"
Photographs of Signs Enforcing Racial Discrimination:
Documentation by Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photographers
Photographers working for the Farm Security Administration Historical Section (later transferred to the Office of War Information) were encouraged to document continuity and change in many aspects of life in America during the years the unit was in operation. They were particularly encouraged to photograph billboards and signs as one indicator of such developments. Although no documentation has been found to indicate that photographers were explicitly encouraged to photograph racial discrimination signs, the collection includes a significant number of this type of image, which is rarely found in other Prints and Photographs Division collections.This reference aid includes all the known images of discrimination signs found in the Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information file of photographic prints. This list was compiled in response to frequent patron requests for such images. The list is updated as additional images are discovered."
I want to again to express my deep gratitude to our government for authorizing and supporting the photo documentation of America and her people. It is a power collection. The photographers were top rate. They did not shy away from documenting discriminating practices.
My internet has been an issue getting the files to load up. I have shuffled the PowerPoint to three separate presentations and still 36 minutes and no upload... I hope that teachers, parents and students will explore this unique time in history. It has some much baring on our life today. When I taught To Kill A Mockingbird utilizing these and more sources to make the time and the allusions to the past meaningful the class, the other students, and other teachers were also actively engaged in sharing and discussing the topics from our huge galley walk and "open Premiere. The year I co-taught the ELA only teachers expressed how valuable the historical connection was to the deeper comprehension. My fellow teacher shared that she learned even more by being involved with significant historical background specific to the novel. The neatest thing was the students with learning needs lead the collection and the gallery design, and set up.
Thus, I decided that it would be a good idea to have some basic resources available that are reliable and easy to get to. In our current situation, it also allows parents to have something that they know is safe. Do not let me tell you the type of unsavory things that can pop up.
First steps would be teaching photo Analysis of primary source documents. I have included Worksheet from the National Archives. There are so many wonderful applications, like the 6 word summaries. or can they find out what happened to the named individuals....
One my greatest new discoveries was this incredible song and photo college that just was so moving that I cried. The lyrics are included below. The lyrics did not list a title. here are the music credits listed Vocals: Amber Rae Annen, Guitar and Bass: Kevin Schmitz, Lyrics: Schmitz, Music: Schmitz /Annen. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5cNfvsOqNk
This is a project that is under reconstruction... I will add as I can so please check back.
