Working for a Living Collection Activity Suggestions
We recommend starting the examination of all photographic collections with the Image Gallery Essay and lesson plan.
Here are some additional suggestions on how to use the images in this collection with your students.
Target grade levels: Upper elementary through high school.
- Choose some images from this collection. Use a projector to share the images with the class. For each image, discuss:
- What work do you think this person does?
- How would you describe the setting (if applicable)
- How did the person in the picture get to be in that position?
- What do you think the cameraman was trying to convey in taking this picture- what mood/tone/feeling?
- Do you think this person had the same opportunities as a non-black person when choosing a career in this period of time? Why, or what makes you think that? In what ways do you think this person was limited in his/her choices?
- Do you think this person earned the same salary as a white person who performed the same job? What leads you to your hypothesis?
- Ask students to think about how they might hear other points of view about what it was like for African Americans in terms of the work world. Have students work with a partner to find a source of data that will support or disprove their ideas.
- As a follow up, students can research hiring practices at a local business that is similar to one of the businesses in the gallery.
- Show students an image from the collection, for example the image of the Lexington Laundry. Project the image on the wall or blackboard. Ask students to choose one person from the picture, and play the person's role. Have the rest of the class conduct an interview the person about their job, how they chose it, etc. List the answers given by the "actor," to review later. Compare this list with what your students know about the work done by people they know (parents or others). This activity gives students a chance to share existing knowledge about Jim Crow practices, making it a great introduction to your unit on Jim Crow.
These lesson activities were submitted by Laura Minnegerode, a teacher for Marin Day Schools in California.
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