Photograph Forensics: Looking Closer at Primary Sources
Lesson Plan (Grades 7-9)
Overview:
Photographs are exciting primary sources to analyse. They can capture a specific time, story,
perspective, landscape and event. When you investigate further, it is interesting to discover what
photographs can communicate about: typical modes of transportation, important businesses, popular
fashion, gender roles, recreation, communication, as well as social norms and values. In this exercise, we
invite you to look critically at images from the early twentieth century, ask lots of questions and delve
deeper into the art of photographic forensics!
Curriculum Links:
History and Geography: Geography: Grade 7 - Patterns in Human Geography
 Identify and explain the factors affecting population distribution
 Explain how site and situation influence settlement patterns
 Summarize the factors that affect patterns of urbanization, industrialization, and transportation
 Locate relevant information from a variety of primary and secondary sources
 Create and use a variety of maps for specific purposes
History and Geography: Geography: Grade 8 – Patterns in Human Geography
 Identify and explain the factors affecting population distribution
 Locate relevant information from a variety of primary and secondary sources
 Create and use a variety of maps for specific purposes
Canadian and World Studies: Geography of Canada: Grade 9 (Academic) – Methods of Geographic
Inquiry and Communication
 Use different types of maps to interpret geographic relationships, including changes over time in
a specific location
 Distinguish among opinion, argument, and fact in research sources
 Analyse a regional or national geographic issue on the basis of information gathered through
research
Canadian and World Studies: Geography of Canada: Grade 9 (Applied) – Methods of Geographic Inquiry
and Communication
 Distinguish among opinion, argument, and fact in research sources
 Use different types of maps to interpret geographic information
 Provide appropriate and sufficient geographic evidence and well-reasoned arguments to
support opinions and conclusions
Important Terminology:
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Primary Sources: original, first-hand accounts created at the time, or shortly after, something
happening
Secondary Sources: second-hand, published accounts created after primary sources
Artefact: an object remaining from a particular period that was created by humans and usually
has a practical purpose
Key Questions:
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What is the difference between a primary and a secondary resource?
What information can primary sources reveal about the past?
Are photographs reliable sources? Why or why not?
How do transportation routes and recreation affect population distribution?
Lesson:
Review the difference between primary and secondary sources. Show the students the image of
Britannia-on-the-Bay. Follow the steps as outlined below to challenge the students to think critically
about the information that can be conveyed in a photograph.
Step One: Have a good, long look at the photograph.
Step Two: Time to Think Critically.
In what season was the picture taken?
What time of day was the picture taken?
What day of the week do you think it is?
What was the weather like?
What is the landscape like?
What are people in the picture wearing?
What are the people in the picture doing?
Describe the built structures (Size? What materials are used? Location? Function?)
Are there any technologies evident?
From where did the photographer take the picture from?
In what year do you think that photograph was taken?
Step Three: Time to Look Even Deeper!
Is anyone in the photograph aware that the picture is being taken?
If you were walk into the photograph, what types of sounds would you hear and what might you smell?
If the photograph were in colour, how would it change your perception of the scene?
Who do you think took the photograph and why do you think it was taken?
What do you t think the economic status is of the people in the photograph? Wealthy? Impoverished?
If a photograph was taken in the exact same location today, what would be different?
Imagine that you are one of the people in this photograph. Why are you at this location?
Looking at a variety of different maps, where do you think this photograph was taken? Provide evidence
to support your hypothesis.
Step Four: Time to Learn More.
This particular photograph, taken in 1900, is of the view looking towards the pier at Britannia.
(1900. William M. Harmer/Library and Archives Canada/PA-106244/1966-033 NPC/ Item 23).
In the late 1800s, Britannia Beach was a quiet cottage community. Families from Ottawa would spend
their summers in the area enjoying the beach and solitude. At the turn of the century, the area was
transformed by the Ottawa Electric Railway (OER). On Victoria Day of 1900, the Britannia line was
opened and twelve to fifteen thousand passengers attended the opening event. In addition to extending
the streetcar line from Sandy Hill to Britannia-on-the-Bay, the OER built a thousand-foot pier and
breakwater, as well as change rooms on the pier and beach. The company promoted the park through
reduced rates, free swimming lessons in the mornings, and annual events for children.
In addition to putting up a grand stand for their annual regatta, the company built a club house for the
Britannia Rowing Club in 1902. For the Britannia Boat Club, the company built a new clubhouse at the
end of the pier, which included a ballroom, grandstand and storage. The pier was extended in 1906 to
allow steamers to bring day-trippers to the park.
Source: Elliot, Bruce S. (1991). The City Beyond: A History of Nepean, Birthplace or Canada’s Capital
1792-1990. Ottawa: Tri-graphic Printing (Ottawa) Limited in Canada.
Step Five: Time to Try Again!
Using the photographs below, and following the steps outlined above, challenge students to work
independently or in pairs to refine their photographic forensic skills and learn more about life in
twentieth century Nepean. When completed, ask the students if photographs are reliable resources.
2001.8.4 This is a black and white photograph postcard from 1909. It is entitled: "Park Promenades and
Entertainment Auditorium- Brittania." The photgraph is addressed to: "Major S.S. Weatherbie/ 36
Stanislaus St./ Quebec/ P.Q." Also on the back is a two cent stamp on the viewers right, in the top
corner. There is a cancellation stamp that reads: "Ottawa, Ont/ May 28/ 10 pm/ 1909," on the viewers
right hand side. Written vertically is "D. 460. W.G. MacFarlane, Publisher, Toronto." There is a written
message on the viewers left.
2001.8.3 This is a black and white postcard of Britannia Boat Club, Ottawa. The postcard features a
picture of boats in front of the Boat Club with men and women on the boardwalk. The postcard is
addressed to "Mr. Gilbert McEwen/ R.M.D. No.1/ Perth, ON." There is a one cent stamp located in the
top right corner on the back of the postcard.
Step Six: Mapping.
Using a variety of maps, track the population distribution over time in Nepean and in the City of Ottawa.
Note specifically the wave of subdivisions along the length of the streetcar lines.
Implications for Future Lessons:
 Visit the museum, receive a guided tour of the collection and learn more about the storage and
care of artefacts in the collection, specifically maps and photographs.
 Debate the validity of photographs as reliable resources. Challenge students to find historical
photographs that have been altered and determine why the image where altered and how it
changes your perception of the person(s) / event / location.
Materials:
 Historic images
 Projector or SMART board
 List of questions
 Maps of Nepean and Ottawa
Resources:
Artifact. [Def. 1a]. (n.d.). In Merriam Webster Online. Retrieved May 16, 2013 from
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artifact?show=0&t=1368710537 .
Eamon, Michael. (n.d.). Defining Primary and Secondary Sources. The Library and Archives Canada.
Retrieved May 16, 2013 from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/education/008-3010-e.html.
Elliot, Bruce S. (1991). The City Beyond: A History of Nepean, Birthplace or Canada’s Capital 1792-1990.
Ottawa: Tri-graphic Printing (Ottawa) Limited in Canada.
Eveleth, Rose. (December 13, 2013). How Fake Images Change our Memory and our Behaviour. CBC.
Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121213-fake-pictures-make-realmemories .
The Ontario Curriculum: Grades 9 and 10; Canadian and World Studies, 2005. Queen’s Printer for
Ontario.
The Ontario Curriculum: Social Studies, Grade 1 to 6; History and Geography, Grades 7 and 8, 2004.
Queen’s Pinter for Ontario.