Building a Keynote Primary Source Animation for a Social Studies Conference

I'll continue to add animations as replies to above post as I build my presentation. Please critique. Thanks!

Animation #2 - 140th flag day, 1777-1917

Teaching Notes from the Teaching with Primary Sources Teachers Network:

140th flag day, 1777-1917 The birthday of the stars and stripes, June 14th, 1917 was created in 1917 and is part of the World War I War Posters at the Library of Congress. Students choosing this poster to study should carefully observe and research the image, to understand its symbols. Next, they should design a simple slide animation that enhances the visual impact of the image. This animation should be concise and engaging, effectively conveying the message of the poster. Finally, students should propose an essential question that encourages meaningful discussions and critical thinking. (Example: “Why do symbols like the flag hold power, and how do they influence civic life?”) 

For this week's work I'm replying with two Keynote animations on the same theme democracy. Specifically these two Posters designed by James Montgomery Flagg were made to engage American citizens in supporting war in 1917 (World War I).

Teaching Notes

Explore the messages conveyed in these past posters. How can you create an animation using Keynote that highlights a poster that resonates with you and conveys a meaningful message?

1. Analyze the original poster. Based on your research and observation, what do you see and what is the history behind the poster and message?
2. Without altering the original intent or artistic style, identify a simple yet effective movement (animation) that could be incorporated into the poster.
3. Build your animation on a Keynote slide and export as Animated GIF and share.
4. Identify any contemporary issues that resonate with you that the poster might speak to.

Animation #3 - Wake Up America

Summary - Poster showing a woman, possibly Jean Earl Moehle (Möhle), dressed as Paul Revere carrying lantern and American flag. Moehle reenacted Paul Revere's ride for the Wake Up America Patriot's Day celebration in New York City. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015 and The New York Times, April 19, 1917)

Animation #4 - Wake Up America

Summary - Caption label from exhibit "World War I [Library of Congress] ...": James Montgomery Flagg's Call To Arms. After two and a half years of neutrality, the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917. James Montgomery Flagg, who created some of the war's most indelible images, sounded the alarm for all citizens in this poster which was featured in "Wake Up, America" Day in New York City just thirteen days later on April 19th.

See Post for resources

This week I'm adding two more Keynote slide animations to my upcoming National Council for the Social Studies presentation - animating historic primary source posters around the theme of democracy. These two focus on voting. Please see my post at the top for more information. I'll post each animation and explanation in a separate Reply. Please critique.

Animation # 5 At the ballot box, everybody is equal, register and vote Join the NAACP.

Teaching Notes:

This poster archived in the Library of Congress was sponsored by the NAACP and created between 1970 & 1980. The image of the black ballot box curtain with a variety of shoes peeking out under neath was hard to resist as an animation subject!

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS

• What was the author’s primary intention behind creating this poster?
• How does your animation contribute to the narrative?
• What contemporary issues does the poster and your animation address?

Here is the second Keynote animation for this week (as I build my presentation for the National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Washington D.C - December). See top post for details.

Animation #6 Beautify America - - register and vote.

This 1971 Poster in the Library of Congress collection Beautify America -- register and vote was sponsored by the United Federation of Teachers.

Teaching Notes:

Encourage student involvement in the democratic process by looking at past “vote” campaigns (or creating new ones) by animating primary sources using Keynote. What graphics/posters might still be viable today to “Promote the Vote” when animated?

Design, critical thinking, research, engagement, involvement - all part of the learning process.

Animation #7 WPA Rumor

Continuing this week with several more Keynote animations that I'll be using in my Teaching with Primary sources presentation.

Teaching Notes

Created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of the recovery effort during the Great Depression, this poster was funded by the Federal Art Project (United States). It was part of a campaign to quell rumors during economic hard times and secure citizen support, particularly during the depression and the buildup to World War II.

Today with digital access to communications and concerns about media literacy, students might investigate an essential question such as "In a democracy how do we discern fact from rumor?"

Animation #8 - Books Wanted for Our Men in Camp (1918 - 1923)

Continuing with more Keynote animations that I'll be using in my Teaching with Primary Sources presentation.

Teaching Notes:

This simple slide animation is created using a poster featured in the Library of Congress. At the time, it was designed to encourage donating books for World War I soldiers. A description of this program can be found in the blog post titled “Bringing Books to World War I Soldiers: The Library War Service” on the Teaching With the Library Primary Sources & Ideas for Educators blog.

During World War I, citizens were encouraged to support the war effort in various ways. Providing reading material for the soldiers was one way to indirectly support democracy.

Continuing with "Replies" that showcase the Keynote Primary Source Poster Animations that I’ll be using in a Teaching with Primary Sources Poster presentation.

Animation #9 - Keep him free--Buy War Savings Stamps issued by the United States Treasury Dept.

Teaching Notes:

The majestic Eagle in Keep Him Free is part of the World War I poster collection in the Library of Congress. Citizens in 1917 were urged, via this campaign, to buy United States Saving Stamps to support the war effort. Keynote animations of this Poster might enhance the message of the campaign around the theme of democracy and encourage students to explore how a democracy deals with crisis.

Continuing to add Keynote animations as replies to above post as I build my presentation. Please critique. Thanks!

Animation #10 - Freedom of expression, of religion, from want, from fear everywhere in the world

This Work Projects Administration Poster, housed in the Library of Congress was sponsored by the Federal Art Project. The poster was promoting U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's four freedoms which he outlined in a speech to Congress in 1941 and was referencing the world wide economic depression as well as the hostilities that led to World War II.

An essential reflection question for students might be: Which of the Four Freedoms are clearly protected in your community and which are the most challenged?

Animation #11 Don't be a drip!

Teaching Notes:

"Don't be a drip! Be patriotic ... Stop leaks ... Save water" a poster which encouraged people to conserve water between 1941 and 1943 is part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Art collection from Pennsylvania, now located in the Library of Congress Poster collection (see links on post). This simple animation brings home a conservation point that we also emphasize today but perhaps for very different reasons.  Students can connect and animate poster art and explore questions like - What shared responsibilities contribute to a well functioning democracy? 

Animation #12 - Light

Teaching Notes:

As the Picture This Library of Congress Prints and Photos blog post explains in Lights, Power Action! - American poster artist Lester Beall, was hired by the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in the 1930s “to convey a simple message about the benefits of electricity coming to rural America: lights, communication (radio), powered tools and farm implements, running water, and more.”

The Poster shows a large light bulb labeled "Light" in the foreground and a rural farmhouse on the distant horizon with light beaming from its windows; on blocks of blue and red representing the night sky and farmland.

Students might investigate an essential question such as: "How do democracies support advancements in technology?" 

Teaching Notes: These next two Keynote animations are from the Library of Congress Yanker Poster Collection from the 1960s and 1970s. These posters can bring up essential questions about the role of dissent in a democracy, or the ways visual messages might influence public opinion or policy in a democracy. (Civic Literacy).

Animation #13 - Clenched fist with stars and stripes