Equal Justice
Equal Justice: Virtual Exhibition & Educational Materials
Welcome to the digital version of Equal Justice exhibit for educators.
You will find the entire exhibit, including text and images, and resource materials. These resources are for your use in teaching about equal justice in Illinois.
Springfield-based photographer Zach Adams, 1221 Photography, was one of the first people to submit to the ISM's collecting initiative. Initially, he began by documenting life at home with his daughter during the quarantine. He then expanded his subject matter to include images of local protests and rallies. The ISM's front porch serves as the backdrop for several of his images that document Springfield's demonstrations on equal justice.
Virtual Exhibit
Zach Adams - Join Zach Adams whose photography is shared in this exhibit as he explains how he got into photography, his COVID-19 experience and his experiences through his photographs of protests in Springfield.
Resources
Let America Be America Again poem by Langston Hughes Weblink to Poets.org , PDF
John Lewis's written article You Inspire Me, (PDF, Youtube)
Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's poem The Hill We Climb, (PDF, Youtube)
Resources for Talking with Students about Race, Racism, and Social Justice
Elementary Activities
What Can I Discover Lesson Plan - This lesson plan uses the "see, think, wonder, discover" concept to help students study pictures by looking closely at the photographs. Adapted from Library of Congress activities of looking at primary sources.
What Can I Discover Worksheet - Worksheet to go with the lesson plan above.
For upper elementary students
Oral Histories - Have students participate in doing oral histories with family and friends about their experiences and feelings during this time. Use the teacher page Exploring History Using Oral Histories and Recording Histories as They Happen (MSWord, PDF).
Using Langston Hughes Poem Let America Be America Again, (Weblink to Poets.org , PDF, Youtube) discuss what Mr. Hughes means by the title of the poem. These questions may help you explore the poem more in-depth. How does the poem relate to the photographs by Zach Adams?
Using John Lewis's written article You Inspire Me, (PDF, Youtube) discuss what US Representative Lewis writes about in the articles. These questions may help you explore the article more in-depth. How does this writing relate to the photographs by Zach Adams?
Using Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's poem The Hill We Climb, (PDF, Youtube) discuss what Ms. Gorman means in her poem. These questions may help you explore the poem more in-depth.
Secondary Activities
What Can I Discover Lesson Plan - This lesson plan uses the "see, think, wonder, discover" concept to help students study pictures by looking closely at the photographs. Adapted from Library of Congress activities of looking at primary sources.
What Can I Discover Worksheet - This worksheet can be used with the photographs in the exhibit to assist students in exploring the photographs. The lesson plan above can also be used.
Oral Histories - Have students participate in doing oral histories with family and friends about their experiences and feelings during this time. Use the teacher page Exploring History Using Oral Histories and Recording Histories as They Happen (MSWord, PDF).
Using Langston Hughes Poem Let America Be America Again, (Weblink to Poets.org , PDF, Youtube) discuss what Mr. Hughes means by the title of the poem. These questions may help you explore the poem more in-depth. How does the poem relate to the photographs by Zach Adams?
Using John Lewis's written article You Inspire Me, (PDF, Youtube) discuss what US Representative Lewis writes about in the articles. These questions may help you explore the article more in-depth. How does this writing relate to the photographs by Zach Adams?
Using Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's poem The Hill We Climb, (PDF, Youtube) discuss what Ms. Gorman means in her poem. These questions may help you explore the poem more in-depth.
Watch the interview of Zach Adams at the member event. What led him to photograph the protests in Springfield? What did he notice? Why do you think it is important to photograph and record events in history? What purpose do they serve?