Reading Images: Industrialization Inquiry
This is an activity that can be done electronically or in print. In an inquiry-driven lesson, students review a series of images on a particular topic and use those images to frame their responses. Our favorite thing about this exercise is that it promotes not only critical thinking, but also discussion and collaboration. In the example below, our students focused on images from the Industrialization era in U.S. History. The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a great starting point as you build these kinds of inquiry-driven image-focused activities. This is a great introduction to a new unit. It could also be used as an assessment at the end of a unit of study.
KIlmer 7th grade history students read images and respond to questions.
Industrialization Inquiry Activity
Station A
Which of these inventions is most innovative and why? Explain your thoughts using specific details.
Which of these inventions is most innovative and why? Explain your thoughts using specific details.
Images from Smithsonian Learning Lab
Station B
What was life like for workers during Industrialization? Support your answer with details from the images.
What was life like for workers during Industrialization? Support your answer with details from the images.
Images from Smithsonian Learning Lab
Station C
Did people live better before or after Industrialization? Support your answer with details from the images.
Did people live better before or after Industrialization? Support your answer with details from the images.
Before Industrialization
Images from Smithsonian Learning Lab
After Industrialization
Images from Library of Congres
Station D
Did people’s lives improve from industrialization? Why or why not? Support your answer with details from the images.
Did people’s lives improve from industrialization? Why or why not? Support your answer with details from the images.