Charlotte Bruce and Helen Stephan

The main vehicle for this lesson is the web site "When Work is Done". After completing the introductory lesson using photographs as primary sources, students compile their own albums based on a thesis statement about life in the 20^th century.

Overview

Task Analysis

Procedure

Step 1: Introduction

1. Distribute Exhibit A: Taking Time Out For A Friendly Game to all students for a whole class activity. See Teacher Guide for more information.
2. Ask students in groups to brainstorm about what they see in the photograph.
3. Ask each group to write down what they actually know from looking at this photograph.
4. Compare answers.
5. Ask each group to write down what they can infer from the photograph.
6. Compare answers.
7. Ask them to record questions the photograph suggests.
8. Now ask what kinds of further research they would have to do to answer these questions.
9. Review questions and photograph for possible thesis ideas.

Step 2: Examining the Album

1. Divide students into pairs. Hand out Staff Directions to each group.
2. Using a computer lab, the library, or a classroom presentation station, go to the web site, "When Work Is Done".
3. Tell the groups that the photograph album labeled "Card Playing" was found in a museum drawer. We do not know why it was put together. The students' task is to:
   1. find a connection among the pictures; and
   2. write the description that would go with this album if it were put on display in a museum.
   The description should be in the form of a thesis statement.
4. To accomplish this task, students should answer the questions on the Staff Directions worksheet as they examine each photograph.
5. When the groups have finished looking at the album, tell them to look through the worksheet and find any patterns. Using these patterns, ask them to write a thesis about "Card Playing in The United States", along with the observations they made that support the thesis. Then groups should list questions that may have come from their examination of the photos.
6. Each group will present its findings and thesis for class discussion. Call attention to similarities and differences that students have discovered.
7. Ask them what further research would be needed to prove this thesis.

Step 3: Creating an Album

1. Create groups of five students
2. Distribute Album Guidelines
3. Each group is responsible for creating one album in the museum’s collection on Leisure Time Activities in the 20^th Century
4. Each group is to research leisure activities during the 20^th Century, prepare an album, and write a rationale for the album. Pictures may come from the Library of Congress American Memory collections (http://memory.loc.gov), other web sites, or their own personal histories. Students should refer to the bibliography in Resources.
5. Each group must decide on an overriding theme or thesis.
6. Each group should discuss what pieces of evidence they will need to illustrate their ideas.
7. Finished albums will receive a group grade.

Evaluation and Extension

Evaluation

Cooperative activity will allow for different styles of albums and choice of subject material within time period. See Album Rubric and Album Grading Sheet for sample evaluation tools.

Extension

• Teachers may extend the activity by changing the time period or topic.
• Albums could be done as web pages.
• Album thesis could become the basis for a traditional research paper.
• Once albums are completed, groups could give an oral report that brings their album to life. See Oral Report Guidelines and Oral Report Grading Sheet for suggestions.