The Library of Congress

Figuring Somepin 'Bout the Great Depression Lesson One:  Analyzing a Photograph

1. Prior to the lesson you may want to print and distribute background information on the Farm Security Administration (FSA). The online collection includes a brief explanation of The Farm Security Administration.
2. Explain to the class that each student will choose a photograph of a migrant from the American Memory collection FSA/OWI Photographs, 1935-1945.
3. In the computer lab, introduce American Memory and FSA/OWI Photographs, 1935-1945. Model a search of the collection using the keyword migrant and the keyword phrase California migrant. Note the difference in the quantity and specificity of the material obtained with in these two searches. The phrase California migrant obtains the most relevant material.
4. Give students time to search the collection and narrow their interests to one or two photographs; once they have selected a photograph they should print a copy of it.
5. In the classroom, use the worksheet to demonstrate How to Analyze a Photograph.
6. Have each student complete a How to Analyze a Photograph worksheet for the selected photograph.
7. Students will save their work for use in creating the scrapbook in Lesson Four and will turn in the worksheet How to Analyze a Photograph for assessment with the completed scrapbook.
8. Students will complete the analysis individually, but when they form groups to compile the scrapbook, they will choose a photograph from this activity.

Note:  The subject of the photograph selected in the Lesson One exercise may be chosen as the subject of the scrapbook produced in Lesson Four, or students may perform additional research and choose another subject for the scrapbook.