Analyzing Primary Sources: Sensory Exploration
The sensory exploration graphic organizer is a great way to introduce students, especially younger ones, to primary source analysis. It also helps with vocabulary development. Encourage students to write words in each column for each sense or allow them to draw pictures. After, you may have students create a poem of their choice using the words they brainstormed; they may choose to write the poem from the point of view of someone outside the image or from a person, animal, or thing inside the image. If students drew images, have them combine their images into a pictograph to which they will add spoken word.
Below are four images teachers at the CPS Summer Literacy Institute used in conjunction with the this graphic organizer.
 Adjie and the lions |  Teddy Roosevelt at circus |
 Bostock’s trained animals — An affectionate bear |  Society Circus |
How might you use the sensory exploration graphic organizer?
If you implement this activity, please share the images you used and the poems the students created!
More primary source analysis strategies
- Analyzing Primary Sources: Close Observation & Purposeful Questions
- Analyzing Primary Sources: Close Reading Markup Strategies
- Analyzing Primary Sources: Image Sequencing Activities
- Analyzing Primary Sources: Primary Source Investigations
- Analyzing Primary Sources: Primary Source Thinking Triangle Activity
- Connecting to the Common Core: Analyzing Primary Source Images
- Connecting to the Common Core: K-5 Writing Prompts & Activities