Analyzing Photographs

CORE ACTIVITY: Analyzing photographs with SHOWeD (60 minutes)

Materials: SHOWeD worksheet. Print out copies of each photograph. Mount each photo in the center of a large piece of paper so that there is room to write all around it. If possible, facilitator should have a way of displaying each photograph on a projector or screen for the whole class to see.

• Hand out the “SHOWeD” worksheet. Every participant should complete the worksheet individually for the 1-2 pictures they have chosen to present to class. This should go fairly quickly because participants should be familiar with the SHOWeD framework from earlier lessons (see part one). (5 minutes)
• Put students in groups of 2-3 and tell them that they will be doing what’s called a “text on text” exercise. Their job will be to write comments in the space around each photo, leaving room for others’ writing as well.
• Write or project the SHOWeD framework on the board. Students’ comments should be in response to one of the parts of the framework. They should label their comment with the corresponding letter. For example, if their comment is about what is “happening” in the photo, they should write an “H” next to it.
• Distribute the photos among the groups. When groups are done writing comments for each of the photos, they should pass their photos to the next group, moving clockwise. When each group of students receive the new photo, they should add their comments to those already there. Continue this way until all the groups in the room have seen and commented on all the photos. (20 minutes)
• Return each photo to the original photographer. Ask each student to spend several minutes reviewing the comments from the group. They should add comments that resonate or seem important to their SHOWeD worksheet (5 minutes)
• Take turns displaying each of the photos on a screen or projector. Ask each student to share what they wrote on their SHOWeD worksheet and what they learned from the group’s comments. As students share, ask: “Why did you want to share this photo?”, “What is important for people to understand about this photo?” Invite other students to explain or clarify the comments that they added on the previous exercise (15 minutes)
• After everyone is done sharing, each student will write a one paragraph story of their photo using their worksheet, including the feedback they received during the sharing session. They might simply copy down their responses in the order of SHOWeD, or they might decide to follow a different order. This can be an activity done during class or assigned as homework, depending on the amount of support that students need. (15 minutes)