Lesson Plan: Reflecting on the Year Through Photojournalism – Top 100 Photos of 2024
Objective:
Students will explore the power of photojournalism by analyzing Time’s Top 100 Photos of 2024. They will reflect on the visual story of the past year and connect global events to their own experiences. Students will critically analyze photographs, curate a personalized “Year in Pictures,” and discuss the role of images in shaping historical narratives.
Warm-Up: The Story of 2024
Activity 1: Brainstorming the Year
Ask students: What defines 2024 in your mind?
- Create a list of images, words, sounds, or symbols that come to mind when you reflect on the past year. Consider global, national, and personal events.
- Examples: elections, cultural moments, environmental crises, personal milestones.
Discuss:
- What themes or ideas emerge from your list?
- How do these reflections shape your understanding of the past year?
Activity 2: Predictions Before Viewing
- Based on your brainstorm, what types of photographs do you think will appear in Time’s Top 100 Photos of 2024?
- What major events, movements, or cultural shifts do you think will be emphasized?
Main Activity: Exploring the Top 100 Photos of 2024
Part 1: Initial Reactions
- Visit Time’s Top 100 Photos of 2024.
- Spend time scrolling through the collection as a whole or focus on a specific section (e.g., global events, sports, environment).
- Record your first impressions:
- What feelings do these images evoke?
- Which events do you recognize, and which are new to you?
Part 2: Group Work or Individual Reflection
- Reflect on the collection as a whole:
- What story does this collection tell about 2024?
- How does it compare to the brainstorm from the warm-up activity?
- Were there any surprises in the images?
Part 3: Spotlight on a Single Photo
Choose one photograph that you find particularly meaningful. Analyze it using these guiding questions:
- What is going on in this picture?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What more can you find?
- What do you notice about the composition, colors, and elements in the photo?
- Why did this photo stand out to you? What emotions does it evoke?
- What challenges might the photographer have faced in capturing this moment?
Questions for Writing and Discussion
- What emotions and themes stood out to you in the collection?
- Which images best captured the spirit of 2024? Why?
- Which individual photo affected you the most?
- Discuss why this image resonated with you personally or how it connects to your understanding of the year.
- What is missing?
- Are there events, movements, or people that you think should have been included in this collection? Why might they have been excluded?
- Discuss the importance of photo captions or accompanying text.
- How do captions enhance or change your understanding of the photos?
Going Further: Curate Your Own “Year in Pictures”
Activity:
Create a visual story of your own 2024.
- Select 5-10 images (personal photos, illustrations, or images from news sources).
- Write captions for each photo, explaining why it’s significant to your story of the year.
- Reflect:
- What does your collection reveal about your year?
- How does it compare to Time’s Top 100 Photos of 2024?
Closing Reflection
- How does photojournalism shape the way we remember events?
- Why do you think images are such powerful tools for storytelling and history?
- Reflect on the role of photographers: What challenges and responsibilities do they face in capturing the truth?
