Images, photos, and pictures stimulate the mind. For the viewer, they offer a chance to connect and question. They also offer potential for play and imagination, and pulling the observer into purposeful messages.
Most often, newspaper and magazine readers take a quick scan of or glance at photos and their captions. With this YES! lesson plan, you and your students can luxuriate鈥攁nd pause鈥攖o truly understand an image, its message, and why it鈥檚 interesting (or not).
Download this lesson plan as a pdf.
Step One: What do you notice? (before the facts)
Ask your students to make sense of the photograph by trusting their instincts of observation and inference. In doing so, the photograph offers possibilities and interpretations beyond a typical reading where the reader glances at the picture to reinforce their interpretation of the picture鈥檚 title or caption. Do not introduce any facts, captions, or other written words outside of the image. You may hear: kids, soccer balls, signs with doves on them, men with dark skin.
Step Two: What are you wondering? (thinking about the facts)
After you鈥檝e heard what your students are noticing, you鈥檒l probably hear the peppering of questions (What do the signs mean? What country is this?) That鈥檚 curiosity or wonder鈥攖he intermixing of observations and questions. This is a good time to reveal the photo鈥檚 caption, accompanying quote, and facts about the actual situation. Watch how the conversation shifts from what they believe to be true to discerning the facts about the photo.
- Photo caption:
Sports were promoted at various events during the week as a way to interact peacefully with other youth. This soccer tournament took place in Al-Muthanna. Photo by Iraqi La’Onf members. - Photo facts:
This photo was taking during the 2008 Week of Nonviolence in Iraq, a week of peace-building activities with the goal of reducing violence in the January 2009 elections.All of Iraq鈥檚 18 provinces and over 100 citizen groups participated in this nationwide celebration of nonviolence.The Week of Nonviolence is the work of Iraqi activist network La鈥橭nf. This coalition of civilian activists uses nonviolent action to work towards a peaceful, prosperous future for an Iraq free from occupation.
The Arabic phrase La鈥橭nf translates literally to 鈥渘o to violence.鈥�
鈥淲ithin the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq鈥� if you speak about resistance you are accused of supporting terrorists鈥� but if you speak about nonviolence you are accused of supporting the occupation,鈥� says Ismaeel Dawood, a La鈥橭nf founder
Step Three: What next? (jumping off the facts)
Learning more about a photo leads to bigger questions and an opportunity to discuss broader issues and perspectives.
You are organizing an event to promote non-violence. Like the soccer game, what sort of activity would you organize?
What would it be like to live surrounded by violence?
An American organization called September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows have traveled to Iraq and other countries targeted in the 鈥渨ar on terror鈥� in order to meet with victims of the United State鈥檚 aggression. They communicate with peace organizations worldwide to spread the word about La鈥橭nf, and the groups organize events together. How could you reach out to victims of war and violence?
Thank you to educator Barry Hoonan for contributing to and shaping this lesson.
