Updated August 2016
As part our Mining and Minerals unit, we discuss the impact of obtaining natural resources and their effects on the environment. We look back at the Second Industrial Revolution and the impact it had not only on the environment, but on society as well. Children were working in mines, factories, and farms under dangerous conditions. Because they were working long hours in order to earn money for their families, they were not able to attend school. We then discuss the factors that lead to child labor, do they still exist today? Unfortunately, child labor still exists in many countries for the same reasons it did at the start of the 20th century, when Lewis Hine took these photographs.
Lewis Hine Photography – Child Labor
Purpose
- To analyze primary sources (photographs) related to child labor
- To learn how Lewis Hine brought awareness to the issue of child labor
- To explore the factors that contributed to child labor
- To write a piece of historical fiction inspired by one of Lewis Hine’s photographs
Resources
- Lesson Plan: LewisHines-Child Labor Photos (pdf)
- Photo Analysis Worksheet – Google Doc
- Library of Congress website
- Google Slides Template (link) – students will select a photo of their choice for their assigned category
- Examples of completed slides (link)
Google Slides
- Students will select 1-2 photographs for their assigned category
- Students will analyze each photograph using the Photo Analysis Sheet
- Each group will create one presentation containing their slides and photographs
- Groups will share their presentations & story excerpts with the class
Subject: Coal Mining http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=lewis+hine+%2B+mine&st=gallery
- Student 1 – pictures of a solitary child (if 3 people in group, combine topic with Student 4)
- Student 2 – pictures of groups of children
- Student 3 – pictures of boys and men mining
- Student 4 – pictures of buildings, machinery, tools, or animals at the mine
“I miss Poland and my old life there. I went to school and learned to read and write. I could even struggle through a few English words. After school, I would race down the dusty gravel road to my small yard. My father built a tree house out of scrap wood he brought back from the shop. We hung a tire swing from it. My dad would push me everyday, I miss him so much.”
Subject: Factory Workers or Urban Setting http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=lewis%20hine%20%2B%20factory&st=gallery
- Student 1 – pictures of a solitary child (if 3 people in group, combine topic with Student 4)
- Student 2 – pictures of groups of children
- Student 3 – pictures of adults and children working side by side
- Student 4 – pictures of buildings, industrial settings, & machinery
“… ‘Am I payin’ you too much?! Because I can change that.’
‘No sir, we are working.’
‘OK good, because I ain’t be wastin’ my time on hirin’ someone new’…”
Subject: Farm Labor or Food Industry http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=lewis%20hine%20%2B%20farm&st=gallery
- Student 1 – pictures of a solitary child (if 3 people in group, combine topic with Student 4)
- Student 2 – pictures of groups of children
- Student 3 – pictures of adults and children working side by side
- Student 4 – pictures of buildings, machinery, & farm animals
“It gets darker and darker every day, but we are holding up. Sometimes I wish that we never left Ireland. It was so much easier there. Ah,well…thinking about everything back home will only make me sad.”
Subject: Family Life http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=family&co=nclc&st=gallery
- Student 1 – pictures of a siblings working together
- Student 2 – pictures of a child/siblings working with parent(s)
- Student 3 – pictures of families at home
- Student 4 – pictures of families working in a factory, farming, or using machinery
“Day 5: Family. I am the youngest of nine children. We are all one year apart. In 1918 we sailed over from Italy.”
Extension
Students will write a journal entry or personal letter (¾ to 1 page) based on one of the photographs they have chosen. They will share their stories along with the photograph they chose for their slide. Samples of writing above are from the Class of 2017.
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