Dorothea Lange

The study of Dorothea Lange, a documentary photographer of the 1930’s, was an eye-opener for my 8th grade students!

ART STANDARDS: CREATE – Students will produce artworks based on art issues and values. Students will learn the appropriate use of materials, tools and techniques. Students will be able to identify and use the elements of art and principles of design in their creations. RELATE – Students will be able to convey the meanings and purposes of art of the period. EVALUATE – Students will be able to determine the quality of their artworks and the artworks of the masters.

TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS: CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION – Concept 1: Knowledge and Ideas – Use technology to generate knowledge and new ideas. PO1. Analyze and evaluate information to generate new ideas, processes or products. RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY – Concept 1: Planning – Plan strategies to guide inquiry. PO2. Determine which information source will provide the desired data. Concept 2: Processing – Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media. PO1. Locate and synthesize information utilizing advanced search strategies. PO5. Apply ethical use of information and media by respecting copyrights, intellectual property rights, using information and media responsibly, and citing resources appropriately. DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP – Concept 1: Safety and Ethics – Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology. PO3. Articulate and practice the school and district rules governing the use of digital tools as defined by school board policy and procedures. PO4. Demonstrate safe online communication practices regarding personal information. PO6. Exhibit legal and ethical behavior when using technology. TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS AND CONCEPTS – Concept 2: Applications – Select and use applications effectively and productively. PO7. Identify and use network protocols for moving files and secure web access. Concept 4: Transfer of Knowledge – Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies. PO1. Transfer understanding of current technologies to new and novel learning situations.

After discussing, as a class, Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother and relating it to the 1930’s and the hardships of the times, and discussing The Grapes of Wrath and Esperanza Rising to demonstrate understanding, the students were ready to begin their individual photographic documentaries.

LESSON SEQUENCE:
I. Students were directed to take their laptops and take pictures of interesting sights around the campus that they could use in telling a story.
II. Students were directed to take a minimum of 5 photographs and no more than 8 photographs.
III. Students were also directed to gain permission from other teachers if they wanted to enter their classroom to photograph.
IV. After taking and printing their photographs, the students were to organize them into the consecutive order for their stories.
V. Finally, the students created a foldout booklet and mounted their photographs (in order) and added captions so that their booklets would look like a magazine layout.

This was a highly popular project and really “showcased” the students’ talents and abilities!