Photographs and History

The National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian Institution
8th and F Sts. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20560
(202) 357-2700

Instructional Unit:
Harlem in the 1920's by James Van Der Zee, a photographic historian. Even though this exhibit is no longer at the National Portrait Gallery, a similar kind of plan could be used for any photo exhibit.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 11
Art, Social Studies

Objectives:
1. Students will write mini reports on Harlem and expand the brief biographical sketch of James Van Der Zee based on their library research.
2. Students will write essays after analyzing a series of photos by Van Der Zee on Harlem in the 1920's.
3. Students will formulate a list of common characteristics of life in Harlem after analyzing photos.
4. Students will find photos of this period and compare and contrast them with the Van Der Zee photos.
5. On our visit to the museum students will observe and note additional characteristics of life in Harlem from the exhibit.
6. Students will categorize exhibit photos according to our established principles.
7. After our visit students will create a bulletin board display featuring highlights of our trip.
8. Individual groups will write and act out a skit or play on some phase of life in Harlem to be video-taped and shared with other classes.
9. Student groups will make collages on Harlem and write bio-poems on Van Der Zee.

Pre-Visit Activities:
1.Students will be given a brief biographical sketch of James Van Der Zee, description of the period he lived in, and a picture of Van Der Zee.
2.Students will do research in the school library on Harlem in the 1920's.
3.Students will be provided of photos by Van Der Zee. A photo analysis sheet will be used to analyze these photos. (see Appendix)
4.Class discussion will result in formation of a list of common characteristics of Harlem during this period.
5.Students will locate other photos from this period to compare and contrast them to Van Der Zee photos.

On-Site Activities:
1.Students will use photo analysis sheets to analyze Van Der Zee photos.
2.Students will categorize exhibit photos.

Follow-Up Activities:
1.Students will write an essay on life in Harlem in the 1920's.
2.Students will create a bulletin board featuring highlights of trip.
3.Students will make collages on Harlem and write bio-poems on Van Der Zee.
4.Students will act out a skit or play based on life in Harlem in the 1920's.

Appendices:
Photo Analysis Worksheet

Bibliography:
None

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