During Social Studies Instruction Students can use Visual Media to meet Common Core Social Studies .ELA-Literacy Standard .RH.6-8.1.

An important goal of CCSS for History and Social studies to promote reading literacy is student identification of the key ideas in an informational text. The relevant CCSS are as follows:


Key Ideas and Details:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.3
Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).

Primary documents, illustrations and photographs can be effective tools teachers can use to encourage students to meet CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1.

 The first thing the teacher should do is find several documents relating to an historical period. Next using Norman L Webb’s, Depth of Knowledge chart the teacher should make challenging questions students can answer to meet CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1.During war time nations create numerous visual media to promote national priorities and keep up the morale of its citizens. In war time most governments attempt to mobilize all elements of the population and society in the effort to win the war.

A perfect example of this was the promotion during WWII of women participation in the war effort. The best example of this was the “We Can Posters”, of WWII outlining the specific role women could play in defeating the Axis Powers (Germany and Japan).

Below we have a contemporary “We can Poster” and one from WWII. First separate the posters into two documents.







As you can see from the assignment the student is asked to complete a DOK Level 4 and 3 question. To meet the CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1 they not only have to analyze the documents, they also have to use prior knowledge to make inferences about the role of women in the military today versus WWII.

In summary illustrations can be a great tool in facilitating students demonstrating “mastery” of CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1. Students can use Visual Media to meet CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1.