A day in the life -1 …. Using tableau to explore historical events – Antebellum period

The teachers will show a PowerPoint presentation to review social studies standards, the Antebellum time period, social classes, and photos of people from the time period.  Students will re-create the photos as tableaus and will write original dialogue from the perspective of the subjects of the photos.
 

Duration
1-2 hours
Lesson Type
Traditional Lesson

Lesson Created By: ShomoneikBrown

Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)

Essential Question

How can tableaus be used as an acting tool for various characters/people?
 
What was life like in South Carolina during the antebellum period?
What were the different classes of people in South Carolina and what were their lives like during the antebellum period?
What impact did the cotton gin have on slavery in the South?
 
What role did slavery play in South Carolina’s secession from the Union?
 
What were many South Carolinians fearful of abolitionists?
 
Why did South Carolinians have such a strong belief in states’ rights?
 

Grade(s):

  • 3

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

PowerPoint Presentation

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

  • PowerPoint Presentation
  • Various photos of the Antebellum period showing multiple classes of people.

Sticky notes, pencils

Lesson Progression

Teachers will:

  1. Show a PowerPoint presentation containing review information and photos of people from different classes during the Antebellum period.
  2. Provide brief instruction on how to properly execute a tableau based on a photo.
  3. Call on students individually to re-create a photo as a tableau. 
  4. Instruct all students to think of dialogue that each subject in the photo would say.
  5. Once all photos have been re-created, students will then be assigned a subject from the photos to write dialogue for. 
  6. The teacher will model writing a line of dialogue for a subject and will write the line as a “thought bubble.  The writing will then be posted to the physical pictures.
  7. Review the social classes and discuss the tableaus and dialogue as a closure activity.
  8. Students Will: View a PowerPoint presentation containing review information and photos of people from different classes during the Antebellum period.
  9. Re-create photos as tableaus.
  10. Brainstorm dialogue from each photo subject’s perspective.
  11. Write original lines of dialogue for assigned subjects within the photo.
  12. Paste written dialogue as a “thought bubble” on the physical picture.
  13. Reflect on the different social classes, tableaus, and written dialogue.

Antebellum Period Photographs

These are different photographs/Illustrations the students could use to inspire their Tableu.

View Resource

Assessments

Students will be assessed by a performance checklist.