Download a pdf version of the Katine lesson activity on photos for primary pupils or read the following:
Lesson objectives
To appreciate how images can be used to promote particular views or agendas
To extract information from images
To interpret images and realise that other people may interpret them differently
To realise the story telling power of carefully selected photographs.
Introduction
When a photographer takes a picture he tries to tell a story. He might try to show how beautiful a place is, or how cold it is. He could show us smiling people to make us feel happy, or crying people to make us feel sad.
Activity
1. In a small group, look at these photographs from the Katine website. For each photograph try to work out what is happening in the picture. Write your answers on a sheet of paper.
Images to show:
Child drinking
http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/katine/gallery/2008/mar/18/1/3Water-break-2191.jpg
Woman in a field
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/Gallery_Images/2008/06/03/Katine-farmer-
gallery-1.jpg
Woman with bucket on her head
http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/katine/gallery/2007/oct/17/internationalnews/GD4923270
@Katine-project-2645.jpg
Woman cooking
http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/katine/gallery/2007/oct/17/internationalnews/GD4923250
@Katine-project-9988.jpg
Fixing a washing up bowl
http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/katine/gallery/2007/oct/17/internationalnews/GD4923260
@Katine-project-1748.jpg
2. Imagine that you are a reporter for the Guardian. You have been asked to find two pictures to show that farming is hard work. You can choose the photographs from anywhere on the Katine website.
3. Print out the pictures that you chose and stick them on to a large sheet of paper. On the same piece of paper explain why you chose them to illustrate the story, and why you think they show that farming is hard work.
4. As a class look at all the pictures you have chosen and talk about why people chose different images. Which are the best two photographs to show that farming is hard work?
