Photography Lesson Plans

6th graders conduct historical research and consider the importance of photography as a data collection device. In this lesson on historical documentation, 6th graders formulate questions regarding historical documents in order to better interpret visual media as a mode for transmitting facets of history. 6th graders will work in groups to discuss and research primary and secondary source documents.

Students research the history of the Depression particularly in the ways it was documented by photography. Then they take their own pictures in the style of one of the best documentarians, Dorothea Lange.

Learners investigate objects for a specific element from the Periodic Table.  In this elemental photography lesson, learners observe for and object and photograph it. Learners use photographs to prepare a multimedia presentation. The presentation must include information from the Periodic Table.

In this writing through photography lesson plan, learners write and create a story line incorporating photos from Inspiration or their own personal photos. Learners interact with imagery, shadows, descriptive details and graphic organizers.

Learners improve their' writing by incorporating photography into descriptive and narrative writing exercises. They write descriptions of various professional photographic collections. Later they use their own and other classmates'.

In this lesson learners analyze various photographs. In this photography lesson, learners examine photographs in the Reuben R. Sallows Digital Library.

4th-8th graders will explore Wright Morris' photography and create their own black and white photographs. They will then use the photographs to portray a message they want communicated by writing a narrative telling a story about the object. Note: The fine arts themes and expression in this activity will relate to other artists as well.

In this lesson students research environmental problems facing the world's oceans and think about how the art of photography can help solve these problems, using David Doubilet's photography as an example.

Students use technology to gain historical information to analyze photography. They interpret the significance of a photograph during a specific time period. Also, students interpret visual information to gain an overview of various traditions for Indians of the 1800's.

Learners are introduced to the characteristics of documentary photography. Individually, they cut out a paper frame and view their classroom through the "lens" and at different angles. After veiwing photographs, they practice identifying the mood and determine what they can about the various experiences from immigration and share them with the class.