Life during the early South Carolina Textile Mill Era through poetry and photography

During this SmartARTS lesson, students will learn what life like during the early South Carolina Textile Mill Era. Students will analyze photographs and close read a poem in order to gain information and use visual literacy skills.  Students will also create a metaphor and draft a short informal poem/story. Language arts vocabulary includes setting, character, dialect, line, and metaphor.  This lesson provides a strong foundation for research. 
Concepts: Visual literacy, Elements of poetry, Textile Mill Era, Writing Process, Research

Duration
Less than 1 hour
Lesson Type
1:1 Lesson

Lesson Created By: KimberlyGibbs

Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)

Essential Question

1. What was life like during the early South Carolina Textile Mill Era? (1890 - 1938)
2. How can I close read a photograph?
3. What can I learn from a poem?
4. How can I respond through creative writing?

Grade(s):

  • 5
  • 8

Subject(s):

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

Students will need a pencil and paper. 

Lesson Progression

  • Introduction
  • Brain Break
  • Photo analysis: setting
  • Textile Mill Era
  • Poem
  • Photo analysis: character & setting
  • Time to write!

Teacher Notes

Please refer to PowerPoint.

Life During the Early South Carolina Textile Mill Era with Kimberly Simms Gibbs | Asynchronous Studio Lessons

Kimberly Simms Gibbs (Director of Art Education and a teaching artist/certified SC teacher for the Metropolitan Arts Council) leads viewers through a lesson on what life was like for those living in...

View Asset

Exploring the textile mill era in South Carolina

Power point in the format of a .pdf.

View Resource

Assessments

Students will have notes including brainstorming, answering questions, and an informal writing prompt which can be graded with a checklist.