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
Resources
- Library of Congress website: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/nclc/
- Photo Analysis Worksheet: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/photo.html
Google Slides
- Students will select 1-2 photographs for their assigned category
- Students will analyze each photograph and write a summary to accompany the photograph they chose
- Each group will create one presentation containing 4-8 slides with photographs
- Groups will share their presentations 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
- Student 2 – pictures of groups of children
- Student 3 – pictures of boys and men mining
- Student 4 – pictures of boys/men along with buildings, machinery, tools, or animals at the mine
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
- 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
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
- 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
Subject: Family Life http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=family&co=nclc&st=gallery
- Student 1 – pictures of 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
Extension Students will write a journal entry or personal letter based on one of the photographs they have chosen.