"Teaching with Colorado's Heritage"
Module 9: Using Photos and Prints with Students

Photos and prints are wonderful resources to use with even the youngest students. We are so overwhelmed with media in today's world that often we do not really look at images. Using photos and prints in lessons helps students notice details and make observations. Also, these images can be a step in learning to make interpretations and inferences. Students can also learn how to find factual information about images and use this information to reevaluate their initial interpretations, thus identifying the story behind the image. Photos and prints are also an invaluable tool for understanding both history and culture. By carefully observing the objects in a photo, the people and the surrounding environment, one can have a true window into the everyday lives of those who lived long ago.

Activity

• The Stories Behind the Images

Extension: Photographs and Literacy
Photographs and vocabulary are used as a prompt for a writing activity in the following lesson:
Native Americans of Colorado; Using Colorado Resources to Understand the Lives of Native American Women and Children of the West

Viewing Images

Images used on the World Wide Web are usually in .gif or .jpg format. You will most likely need no special viewers to view most photograph collections, as your Internet browser automatically displays .gif and .jpg formats. However, some collections may provide the option of seeing high-quality .tif or .tiff (Tagged Image File Format) formats. These formats are of a high resolution and large file size and require a special viewer. Since a viewer may already be installed on your computer, first try to open the image. Otherwise, some suggestions for viewing the TIFF format:

• Windows: Docuview
• Windows: Prizm Plug-in
• Windows: ThumbsPlus
• Windows: PaintShop Pro
• Macintosh, Power PC: Graphics Converter
• Macintosh, Windows: Adobe Photoshop

Saving Images

1. Place the computer's mouse over the image. The arrow will change to a hand.
2. Click the right mouse button (Mac users: push down and hold down the button of the mouse).
3. A menu will appear. Select Save image as.
4. A box will appear in which you indicate the name of the image and where you wish it to be saved. Note: Web images often have non-intuitive file names (ex. 8406.jpg)—you may want to rename the image to something you will understand later (ex. goldrush.jpg).