Choices &
Documentation Lesson Plan
Objective
Students will recognize that choices play a role
in documentation.
Methods
Students will document a day in their lives through
the use of photography.
Background
Ever since white people ventured into the West,
they have documented their travels and explorations
through journals, painting, and photography. Lewis
and Clark's Journey of Discovery journals revealed
a whole new expanse of land teeming with animals
and plants unknown to those who authorized the
Louisiana Purchase. In the early 1800's, George
Catlin's oils illustrated scenes from the lives
of Mandan Indians, whose tribal life was almost
obliterated five years later by a smallpox epidemic.
Less than a half century later, Hayden's writing,
Jackson's photography, and Moran's paintings documented
the unbelievable world of Yellowstone, motivating
Congress to make Yellowstone the world's first
national park.
Some people recorded what they saw or experienced
because they were hired to do so, while others
documented for personal pleasure. Regardless of
their motivation, every person made decisions
about what they would document and how they would
do it.
Materials
Camera (digital or Polaroid recommended for this
project so photographs will be available to view
and work with in a timely manner).
Paper, pen/pencil
Procedure
Part 1: Have students document one school day
by taking four photographs.
Part 2: Instruct students to write a short synopsis
identifying each photograph, its subject, and
relevance to their day. They will finish writing
with a rationale of their choices.
Part 3: Instruct students to tell the class or
their group about their project.
Part 4: Teacher will facilitate discussion, focusing
on the documentation process: What choices of
subject did students make? (People? Places? Things?)
What do the photographs say about the documenter?
What did the photographer mean to communicate?
Do the students think he/she succeeded?
Would the choice of subjects have been different
if the assignment had been to photograph the best
parts of one school day? (Or the worst?)
Assessment
Refer to Procedure Part 2 for a written verification
and Part 4 for a verbal verification.
Extensions
The Liberty Cap was painted by Thomas Moran and
photographed by William Henry Jackson. Have students
study these images online at the Influences of
Art in Yellowstone Electronic Field Trip. Ask
students why they think Moran and Jackson chose
to document the Liberty Cap. Have students describe
what they see when they look at these images.
Ask students if they think it would have been
interesting enough to document had they been there
with Moran and Jackson. The Liberty Cap is located
near Mammoth. Find its location on a map of Yellowstone
National Park. What geologic area is it near?
The area near the Liberty Cap is flat. Ask students
how that would that help a photographer and painter
with their work in 1871. Ask students if this
could have influenced either Moran or Jackson?
Source
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming
2002
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