The invention of photography

History

The challenges of early photography

A family portrait from 140 years ago

Late Victorian seaside photographs

Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s

Photographs of Britain in the 1960s and 70s

In ‘Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?’ pupils build on another aspect from EYFS: understanding the past, doing so through looking at historic photographs. In ‘Traditional stories: what do they tell us about the distant past?’ pupils move to the distant past in order to start building their chronological framework by hearing traditional historical stories.

In ‘Elizabeth II: what was her life like?’ pupils began their study of history as a distinct subject by studying the life of a specific person and their role in society. In ‘Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?’ pupils build on another aspect from EYFS: understanding the past, doing so through looking at historic photographs.

This unit explores photography as a recent invention that records history, highlighting early photos of lost ways of life and the challenges of early 20th-century photography. Students learn about changes in recent history, including food, clothing, and more, through photos from the past century.

Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?

Photographs taken with old cameras had to be developed using camera film and special liquids to make prints of the image on paper.

camera film is a roll of plastic that is stored inside the camera.

a portrait is a painting or photograph of a person or people

people with lots of money or land are described as wealthy

something that is popular to wear can be described as fashionable

a pastime is a hobby that people enjoy doing outside of work or school

we describe places, people or things from the time of Queen Victoria as Victorian

when something becomes different it has changed

a pier is a structure that goes out into the sea and often has entertainment on it

the Second World War was a war between lots of countries around the world that took place between 1939 and 1945

prefabricated houses are built in a factory and then transported to the final location on a lorry

transport is the method by which people or goods are moved from one place to another

fashion is the style that is popular at the time

the period of time when someone is a child is their childhood

a protest is when people take action because there is something they want to be changed

Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?

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These lessons were made for home learning during the pandemic.