Exploring Primary Source-Based Instruction: The literacy connection

Mark Newman, Ph.D., National Louis University
AAM Co-director – FIICU

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Primary source-based instruction revolves around literacy: reading, thinking, communicating. It also is most effective when connected to the textbook and other resources. The following exercise offers one method of building literacy skills using primary sources.

Reading the Photograph: What do you see?

Examine the photograph and answer the following questions, supporting your answers by referring to content in the photo.

  1. Where is this place? City? Suburb? Farm?
  2. Who is in the photo? What else is in the photo?
  3. What is happening? Describe the activity.
  4. When does it appear this photograph was taken?
  5. Based on your answers, in one word, what type of place is shown in the photograph?

Connecting to the textbook: what don’t you see?

Based on the answers to the above questions:

  1. What important aspects of the scene are not shown in the photo?
  2. What questions do the answers about what is and what is not in the photo raise about the topic being studied?

Using the answers and the questions, read the appropriate chapter or chapter section in the textbook on the topic and also any other resources provided to check the accuracy of your answers and to answer your questions.

Exploring the photo: what have you learned?

Language Arts application:

Based on the activities above and by referring to the photo, write a four-line description of the photo as follows.

Line 1: Put your answer to reading the photograph, question five here.

Line 2: Using sounds you might hear in the scene, write an action phrase that describes what is happening.

Line 3: Based on what you might smell in the scene, continue describing the action taking place.

Line 4: In one word, summarize what you see in the photo.

Social Studies application:

Based on the activities above and by referring to the photo, write a five-paragraph analysis of the topic of the photograph that discusses its historical, geographic, political, economic, and social aspects.