Walking the Walk
Developed by Julie Davis
Tecumseh High School
English/Language Arts
Grade Level: High School
Introduction
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Click here to view/download this lesson plan as a PDFInspiration
Michelle Agins, photojournalist at the New York Times, spoke to Muse Machine advisors during our Advanced Teacher Training Seminar in NYC in 2018. I was most struck by how she never once complained about any part of her life, which was not an easy one. She approached life with a smile and determination and was resourceful in finding a way around obstacles. She displayed respect towards others and her word was her bond. She told us that one of the most important aspects of her photos is the caption under each picture. It needs to capture the story in very few words and in a powerful way. I was inspired to ask my students to emulate her work.
Overview
Summary
Students choose an honoree to photograph and write a caption about the picture that captures their story in a brief and powerful way. These documents provide compelling evidence of the importance of respect, responsibility and resourcefulness to us individually and as a community.
Standards
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard 6
Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level etc.
Most importantly I have matched it to our Tecumseh District Goal #1, listed in the Lesson Reflection below.
Objectives/Outcomes
To honor positive role models in our school while learning about the power of photographs.
Teaching Approach
Lecture, independent work
Assessment
Students were asked to take several pictures at different angles and choose the best one for display in an Honoree Installation. They were then to write a caption for the photo. If they completed this, I assigned them 30 points.
Lesson Preparation
Teacher Needs
The traits of respect, resourcefulness, and responsibility: have become the pillars of Tecumseh High School. The “3 R’s” were put into place by our principal. They are displayed on banners in the cafeteria and painted on the walls in the hallways to help reinforce them to our students on a regular basis. The traits are meant to guide students to be successful.
Michelle Agins ’77 – Refusing to be defeated:
Teacher Information
Selecting an inspirational person was a must for me! Having Michelle Agins speak to us sparked my interest in this project. I kept the students excited about creating an Honoree Installation that will remain in our school for some time. It will be a beacon for the students who come after them.
Helpful Hints
Have a good photographer come to your class to guide students in the process of photography. Show a few sample captions with newspaper photographs.
Student Needs
- A phone with a camera
Prior Knowledge
Exposure to the 3 R’s in the classroom or other school space. Practice using the tips provided by the guest photographer. Some knowledge of the use of succinct language when writing short descriptors. Familiarity with the purpose of captions.
Student Voice
The ability to choose the subject of their photograph
Vocabulary
grid, editing, caption
Evidence/Assessment of Outcomes
Each student will have a photograph along with a caption that they will share with the class. The students will help to display the photos with captions in the display case. If complete, they will be awarded the 30 bonus points promised.
Enduring Understandings
Students recognize and appreciate those adults who represent the values of respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness.
Learning Plan
Prompt
Can you name any role models in your life?
Hooks
What if you could honor them in some way?
Essential Questions
What behaviors, attitudes and actions make a person a role model?
Resources
School Resource Center to print photographs; a presentation by a local photographer
Teacher and Student Performance Tasks
- Teacher will tell students about the story of Michelle Agins’ life. Emphasize her undying resourcefulness in the face of many obstacles. The emphasis will be on the “3 R’s” and how Ms. Agins possesses those traits.
- Secure a professional photographer to speak to the students about the best ways to capture an image that tells a story.
- Emphasize the requirement for a good caption to go with each picture. Students will demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression (as they write their captions).
- Students must take photographs, select the best one and write a powerful caption for it.
- Students will work with the school Resource Center to have the pictures printed and readied for display.
- Teacher will work with the principal to display the photos in the glass cases in a prominent school location.
Final Review
Each of the pictures and captions speak for themselves. The expectation is that they will demonstrate the “3 R’s” of our school.
Lesson Reflection
“The Tecumseh board believes that the Tecumseh Public School’s Exit Learner Outcomes represent the characteristics we wish to see in all graduates. It is the Board’s goal that Tecumseh graduates are responsible adults with a joy for learning, who contribute to their community and are driven to seek personal success and happiness.”
Did the students gain any insight into the ways that the 3 R’s of Respect, Responsibility and Resourcefulness were a part of the success of their role model? Do they understand how these traits impact their own future success and happiness?