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The Summer of Quarantine
Goal: Students will recognize the impact that the 1955 polio epidemic had on
Objectives:
1) Students will analyze a historic photograph.
2) Students will record their observations about the people, objects, and activities in the scene photographed.
3) Students will write a caption for the photograph using prior knowledge about the 1955 polio epidemic and before reading the actual caption.
4) Students will compare and contrast their caption with the actual Post-Crescent caption.
5) Students will simulate a quarantine situation and record their experiences in a journal.
I. Complete the questions in this part before reading the questions in part II.
Study the photograph of "neighbor boys across the driveway" for a couple of minutes. Form an overall impression of the photograph and then examine individual items.
Use the chart below to list the people, objects and activities in the photograph.
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People |
Objects |
Activities |
1) It may not look to you like much is happening in this photograph. Consider the possibility that the meaning of the photograph (or its message) has more to do with what is NOT happening in the picture. What do you notice NOT happening in the scene?
2) What questions does this photograph raise in your mind?
3) This photo was published in the Post-Crescent on August 6 (?) of 1955. The summer of 1955 was an epidemic year for polio cases in the Fox Cities. In fact, that summer,
II. Read and complete this section only after completing section I.
1) Read the actual caption for the photograph which accompanied it in the Post-Crescent:
“The invisible barrier of poliomyelitis danger probably has spoiled much of summer’s active sports fun for Fox Cities children. The boys above, only a driveway width apart in their respective yards, would like to play baseball, but it’s believed safer not to mingle. Left are Karl and Dave Stringham, sons of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Stringham,
Compare the actual photo caption to the one that you wrote. Was your interpretation of the photograph similar to the actual explanation or not? What additional information would have been helpful to you in interpreting the photograph so that you could write the caption?
2) How would you feel if for several weeks during the summer you could not play with your friends for fear you might catch a disease like polio? In what other ways could you communicate with your friends? What are some activities or games you might play on your own? Share your ideas with your classmates and teacher.
III. A Quarantine Experiment: Here’s a little experiment to give you a taste of what it was like to be quarantined at home during the 1955 polio epidemic. In the school gym or on the playground, mark off an area at least 3 ft. square for each student. For half an hour, students must stay in their squares and amuse themselves with activities or games for one player. Students may not leave their square to talk or play with other students. Your teacher will decide if you may talk quietly with those in the squares next to yours. Perhaps you can create a mail delivery system to write notes to your classmates – your teacher might serve as the mail carrier. Use the ideas brainstormed above to keep busy. After your half-hour quarantine, write a journal entry describing the experience. Did you get bored? Were you able to entertain yourself? Did you wish you could play with your friends?
