Strategies for Connecting Primary Sources to Film Clips – Young Washington
Strategies for Connecting Primary Sources to Film Clips| Young Washington
Resource Overview
This guide provides three strategies for connecting primary sources to film clips. In addition to the profile lenses, these strategies can help students gain a deeper understanding of the movie clips and primary sources. They can be added as an additional or substitute activity to the Teaching with Young Washington Lesson Plan.
Here Now, There Then
Identify how the movie presents the event compared to how the primary source presents the event. Where are the corroborating or complicating details?
Goal: Help students compare how a film and a primary source portray the same historical event to identify corroborating and complicating details.
Use this strategy if…
- You want students to analyze historical accuracy in the media.
- You have a film clip and a related primary source.
- You want students to practice sourcing and corroboration skills.
Steps:
- Show the film clip and read the primary source.
- Students list key details from each.
- Use a T-chart or Venn diagram to compare.
- Highlight corroborating versus complicating details.
- Discuss why differences exist and what they mean.
Facts or Fiction
Before viewing the primary source:
- What do you perceive is being conveyed by this clip?
- Why would the filmmakers decide to convey this message?
- How else could this be interpreted?
- What do you believe is true in this?
- What makes you think that?
After viewing the primary source:
- What parts of the scene are corroborated by the primary source?
Goal: Help students identify corroborating evidence from a primary source and a film clip.
Use this strategy if…
- You want students to analyze historical accuracy in the media.
- You have a film clip and a related primary source.
- You want students to practice sourcing and corroboration skills.
Steps:
- Watch the film clip
- Answer the questions provided
- Read the primary source(s)
- Discuss the similarities between the film clip and primary source
Character Study Through Primary Sources
Before reading the primary source:
- What traits, motivations, or civic virtues does the movie emphasize about this person?
- How does the film portray their relationships, decisions, or impact?
- What assumptions are you making about this person based on the film?
- After viewing the primary source:
What new insights does the primary source provide about this person’s character, actions, or beliefs?
- Are there any contradictions or surprising details compared to the film?
- How does the tone or language of the source shape your understanding of the person?
- Does the source reinforce or challenge the film’s portrayal? In what ways?
Goal: Help students learn about historical figures through the use of media, such as film.
Use this strategy if…
- You want students to learn more about historical figures through the use of media.
- You have a film clip and a related primary source.
- You want students to practice sourcing and corroboration skills.
Steps:
- Watch the film clip
- Answer the questions provided
- Read the primary source
- Answer the questions provided