Visual Primary Sources

I have worked with social studies teachers for over 15 years and hands down, the most popular strategy I hear back from them are the tools for analyzing visual primary sources. And of those strategies, one "Divided Image" is the most requested of all. In essence it is a way in which teachers can divide an image while asking students to dive deep into analysis. Often, teachers think its only about the cutting up of the picture but as you look through this post please remember that it is REALLY about the questions you ask and how you drive them to keep get deeper with their analysis. 

Most recently I was working with teachers at one of the schools here in Rocklin and some of them asked for me to share any tutorials. That is the purpose of the post; to put both the philosophies and "how to's" all in one place. Please reach out if you have any questions. 

Here is the link to my SlideShow about Strategies for Analyzing Visual Primary Sources

The two BIG TIPS when thinking about doing this strategy are these:

1) Make it about the questions? You should serve as someone who is just prompting them to think more and more. Below you will find a video tutorial and in this you will hear me talk about the Library of Congress' "Observe, Reflect and Question". Basically, you need to focus them on ONLY observing at first. They should dive DEEP and tell you all that they see. Then, and only then, can you have them move onto to making inferences. Finally, they should think about things which they still don't know. 

2) To  help dive deep into analysis I would print multiple copies of the image you are having them analyze, cut them into the same pieces and then laminate them. Then divide the class into small groups and each time you reveal a part of the image you will accompany this with passing out the corresponding laminated piece.  You can see below what these look like laminated.