Digital Snapshots

Here you can find educator resources and a general lesson plan appropriate for use in Mississippi Studies, U.S. History, Geography, and other middle and high school classrooms. In this lesson plan, teachers will find engaging activities and historical content related to the 1927 Mississippi River Flood Photographs.

To understand the past and see its impact on the present, students should engage with primary sources from past events. For students to truly understand the documents and have the correct context, teachers must first lay the groundwork for this connection. The teacher should begin this lesson with a brief introduction of the history of the 1927 Flood. A brief story of the long-lasting effects of the 1927 Flood and a list of additional resources is available here.

This collection provides an inside look at how the 1927 Flood caused more of an impact than only property damage. It provides a photographic retrospective ranging from the inhumane refugee conditions to the debilitated economy once floodwaters began to recede. This activity will allow students to highlight a particular area affected by the flood, understand the everlasting impact of the flood, and retell this story through the creation of a museum exhibit.

Use the button below to access the lesson plan, photograph analyses worksheets created by the National Archives, and learn how you can use the 1927 Mississippi River Flood Photographs in your classroom.