Lesson 4: “Photos: 3 Very Different Views of Japanese Internment”

Quick Writes

Directions: Seen and Unseen explores the photographs of three different photographers. It is not like a typical novel; instead, it uses a mix of text, photographs, illustrations, and primary sources. Flip through your copy to explore how the book is organized. Look closely at the layout, visuals, and features like captions, timelines, and primary source panels, and pay attention to how this book presents information differently from a novel.

• Think about the different types of images in Seen and Unseen. Remember that this is a book about photographers and the photos they took. Why do you think the author and illustrator chose to include a mixture of photos and drawings? What are the advantages of using each kind of artwork?

Generating Situations, Context, and Examples

Target Word: intent

Directions: We’re learning about the word intent today. Take out your Key Terms and Topics graphic organizer as we explore the word more deeply. In this unit, you will read and think about the intent of different photographers who took pictures of the same place.

1. Have you seen this word before? Where?

2. Do you know other words with this root?

Sometimes, it is hard to understand a person’s actions unless we know their intent. For instance, a friend might tell a joke that we do not like. We want to know whether their intent was to make us laugh or to hurt our feelings.

1. Imagine you are taking a picture of a beautiful sunset. What is your intent in taking that picture?

2. Now, imagine you work for a jewelry store. You are taking a picture of some earrings that the store sells. What is your intent?

Build Word Relationships:

1. What is the relationship between intend and intent?

2. What is the relationship between intentional and intent?

Part A: Determine Central Ideas

Directions: First, listen as we review brief background information about each photographer before they took photos of the camps. You will return to and build on this information later as you read Seen and Unseen. Remember, a central idea is what a text is mostly about; the most important point the author is making.

Read the article with your partner and annotate as you read to answer the following question.

• What is the central idea of this article, and how does the author support that idea by referring to the work of the three photographers?

Part B: Analyze Connections

Think-Pair-Share

Directions: Now that you have closely read and discussed the article, you will continue exploring how the authors develop their claim through connected examples with your partner. First, think about your ideas independently. Then, discuss and refine your ideas with your partner. Finally, be prepared to share your ideas with the class. As you work, watch the video about Toyo Miyatake and pay attention to differences in framing, subjects, and emotional tone.

• How does the video add to your understanding of Toyo Miyatake’s experiences at Manzanar?

• How do the photographers’ perspectives shape the way the events of incarceration are presented to the audience?

• Explain how one photographer’s perspective influences how the events of incarceration are understood by viewers.

• Why might a photographer choose a certain frame, angle, or subject? How does intent affect the story that is told?

• Based on what you know about the photographers, how might each one shape the story of Japanese American incarceration? What might they include or leave out?

Directions: Create a 3–2–1 summary focused on the phrase “3 Very Different Views” from the article’s title. As you complete your summary, think about how the meaning of this phrase is revealed throughout the article. Use the graphic organizer to record:

• 3 important words/phrases (key ideas/events that matter)

• 2 key details or ideas

• 1 sentence explaining what the text is mostly about (gist sentence)