KidCitizen announces new episode: A Close Look at the Miyatake Family
KidCitizen announces the release of a new episode for elementary age children to practice close observation of a primary source photograph from the Library of Congress.
In this interactive episode, students uncover the story behind the image of the Miyatakes, a Japanese American family incarcerated in Manzanar during World War II.
A Close Look at the Miyatake Family uses the strategy of close observation to help students slow down their process of looking at a primary source. This helps children deeply investigate the details captured in the photograph. Students may draw upon their observations to critically inquire about the diverse experiences of families in America past and present.
The episode centers on a photo of the Miyatake family together. It was taken by Ansel Adams as part of his work for the War Relocation Authority documenting the removal of Japanese-Americans to detention camps and their lives there.
Adams, A., photographer. (1943) Tojo Miatake i.e. Tōyō Miyatake Family, Manzanar Relocation Center. California Manzanar. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2002695956/.
The father of the family pictured, Toyo Miyatake, was also a photographer. While developing the episode, we discovered that the Toyo Miyatake Studio continues to provide photography services, and through Toyo’s family, we were able to include in the episode several of his photographs that he took in Manzanar. This enhanced the episode by featuring multiple perspectives.
Miyatake, T. (ca. 1944) The boys behind barbed wire (Photo courtesy of Alan Miyatake, Toyo Miyatake Studio)
The photo above, taken by Toyo Miyatake in 1944, is explored in the episode. It is unusual since it shows the fences and guard towers of the camp which were generally not allowed to be photographed.
The episode is designed for K-5 children, and is accompanied by a Teachers Guide.
The Teachers Guide includes curricular connections to NCSS standards and the C3 framework. Background on the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II provides teachers with introductory information to extend their knowledge. Additional primary sources, children’s literature, lesson plans, and resource guides offer suggestions to extend learning with classroom activities that connect to the episode.
Teachers and children can play the episode directly from the KidCitizen website.
KidCitizen episodes work on all devices: PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, iOs or Android tablets.
If you have questions or would like to talk with us about this episode, get in touch with us here.