History in focus

History in Focus: Using Images to Teach Literacy Skills in

Social Studies

Presented by Betsey Kennedy-OlotkaElizabeth.Kennedy@cobbk12.org

All materials available at

www.symbaloo.com/mix/HistoryInFocus

Social Studies Meets Literacy

• Social Studies offers students a perfect opportunity to practice the skills they are learning in Reading and Writing Workshop.

Why do images matter?

• Draw a sketch of a cat.

• Draw a sketch of a civet cat.The African Civet is a large species of Civet found across sub-Saharan Africa. The African Civet is the only remaining member in its genetic group and is considered to be the largest Civet-like animal on the African continent. Despite their cat-like appearance and behaviors, the African Civets are not felines at all but are in fact, more closely related to other small carnivores including weasels and mongooses. The African Civet is most well known for the musk that it secretes to mark it's territory (called Civetone), which has been used in the manufacturing of perfumes for centuries, and its striking black and white markings, make the African Civet one of the easiest Civet species to identify.

Cat vs. Civet Cat

• It’s nearly impossible to picture something you have never seen.

• Words are used to recall things we have already seen and experienced.

• Writing is much more detailed when students can look at an image before they start writing.

Why do images matter?• The brain processes visual information 60,000 faster than

text. - 3M Corporation, 2001

• Visual aids in the classroom improve learning by up to 400 percent.

- 3M Corporation, 2001

• Approximately 65 percent of the population are visual learners.

- Mind Tools, 1998

Why do images matter?

• Anchor images increase recall and retention by an average of 42%

• Anchor images increase transfer of knowledge (long-term learning and application) by 89%

- Mayer, R.E., 2001

Sequencing Anchor Images

Social Studies Journal Entry

This year, I think we will learn about…

One picture that stood out to me was because…

I think this picture shows…

What will students discover about making sense of historical images from this

activity?

Online Option

http://docsteach.org/tools/finding-a-sequence

Common Core ConnectionCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Teaching Students to “Read” Images

Adjectives(Words describing the nouns)

Nouns (People, Animals, Places,

Things)

Adverbs (Words describing the verbs)

Verbs(Actions)

Cupboard Shelter, December 1943

A day nursery in the East End of London shelters children in a linen cupboard during an air raid. Some homes had Morrison shelters – a steel table with wire mesh sides - where they took cover during raids whilst others put up Anderson shelters in their gardens. Regular practices were held and schoolchildren were drilled in the use of gas masks.

Thinking About Images

Magic Viewers

Image Analysis: Thinking Cards

Observe

Social Studies Journal Entry

Our observations

Image Analysis: Thinking Cards

Reflect

Social Studies Journal Entry

Our observations

Our reflections

Image Analysis: Thinking Cards

Social Studies Journal Entry

Our observations

Our reflections

Our questions

Observe, Reflect, Question

Photograph by Lewis Hine, January 1909

"Reader" in cigar factory, Tampa, Fla. He reads books and newspapers at top of his voice all day long. This is all the education many of these workers receive. He is paid by them and they select what he shall read.

Common Core ConnectionCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Annotate the PhotoWhat do you see?

What thoughts come to your mind?

What questions do you have?

There are a lot of people

in this car.Are they really traveling

with that much soap? Why?

This is a pretty old-timey car. Are these people rich?

Annotate the Photo

Group Think

With your group, write down your initial observations, reflections, and questions within the blue box.

One Clue at a Time

• This image is credited to photographer Dorothea Lange.

Group Think

With your group, write down your thoughts now that you know more about the photographer within the green box.

One Clue at a Time

• This title of this image is “Oklahoma Dust Bowl Refugees” and it was taken in 1935.

Group Think

Now that you know more about the context of this image, write your thoughts in the outer box.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.3Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.

Common Core Connection

Social Studies Journal Entry

Write a story of this journey told from the perspective of one of the people in the car.

Thinking Posters

Online Option

http://padlet.com/betseykenn/CarPhoto

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.6Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Common Core Connection

Taking Perspectives

www.huntington.org/Education/GoldRush/game/index.htm

Social Studies Journal Entry

Based on what you have learned, write what this gold miner is thinking.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.6Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

Common Core Connection

Online Option

Blabberize.com

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.6Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Common Core Connection

Seeing an Event from Different Perspectives

What would

someone in Britain

think about this

image?

What would a Patriot think about this

image?

Seeing an Event from Different Perspectives

Social Studies Journal Entry

Write a letter to a friend about your reaction to this image.

Dear _______,This morning I couldn’t believe what I saw in the newspaper! …

All materials available at

www.symbaloo.com/mix/HistoryInFocus