Veteran's Day 2018: Veterans Day 2018

Tips for Observing Historic Photographs

Look at the photo for 2 minutes.

Form an overall impression and then examine particular items.

Next, divide the image into 4 sections to see what new details become visible. 

Veterans Day Lesson Agenda (November 7th and 8th)

Essential Questions:

• What was the Armistice? 
• How do photos help us relate to our predecessors and serve their memories?

Lesson Description:

This November 11th the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of World War I's Armistice.  Today, students will:

• learn about the armistice
• analyze historic photos from that time
•  reflect on people's experiences during the armistice

Lesson Instructions:

Part 1: Videos

1. As a class, students will first watch a short video (1 minute) called WWI Centenary providing background knowledge on World War I. 

2. Next, students will watch a 5 minute video of veterans reading letters written by soldiers and civilians during World War I.  The letters were written by: a soldier, a nurse, a prisoner of war and a 15 year old volunteer.

Part 2: Examine & Analyze Historic Photographs

3. Students will then each receive a historical postcard and a "Analyzing Photographs and Prints" chart. 

4. Students will spend 2 minutes examining the details of their historic photographs (on the front of  the postcards). 

5. After closely examining all corners of the photographs students will complete the "Analyzing Photographs and Prints" chart. 

Part 3: Writing Postcard Letters

6. Using the information they learned in the videos and the reflections students made during their photo analysis, students will then flip over the postcards and write letters AS IF THEY WERE one of the figures in the historic photographs on their postcards.  Students should include:

• details from the photograph
• vivid language
  • Think about what your person is:
    • seeing
    • touching
    • smelling
    • tasting
    • hearing?
• emotional responses:  
  • How is your person feeling? 
  • What do the events pictured mean to your person?  
• future predictions:
  • What's next for your person?  

TEACHERS: Please collect completed cards and reflections from students and return classes works to Mr. Illes.  Postcards will be displayed in the library.

Lesson Documents (printed and provided to Social Studies Classes)