Muybridge, Eadweard. Cape Flattery — light house on Tatoosh Island, 1st order fixed light, 162 feet above sea level / illustrated by Edw. J. Muybridge. 1870. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2006680956/.
This photo is of the Tatoosh Lighthouse in Neah Bay, Washington. Introduce this lesson by brainstorming with students how much they know about the purposes of lighthouses and where they are commonly found. At the middle school level, most students will have a general idea of what lighthouses are or why they might be useful.
I would also introduce the geography of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State by projecting a map and asking students what they imagine the coastline to look like and what the hazards of a coastline like this might be. The National Park Service has some introductory resources on the ONP coastal geology that may be helpful.
In 1778, Captain James Cook explored the area near the Olympic Peninsula and named nearby Tatoosh Island after a Makah chief who used it seasonally for whaling and fishing. In 1849–1850, William McArthur recommended building a lighthouse on Tatoosh Island to aid ships entering the strait of Juan de Fuca. Congress funded the project in 1854.
Source: https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=120
Source: : https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=120
- How have coastal environments impacted humans?
- How do lighthouses benefit humans? Why do people choose to build lighthouses, especially in rural areas?
- Extension Question: What are the different perspectives about the management of Tatoosh Island and the Cape Flattery Lighthouse, and how have they changed over time?
ELA Standard
ELA.W.7.7. Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions
for further research and investigation.
Social Studies Standard
SSG2.6-8.3. Explain and analyze how the environment has affected people and how human actions modify the physical environment, and in turn, how the physical environment limits or promotes human activities in Washington State in the past or present.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- To begin the lesson, students will examine the photo, writing what they notice, think, and wonder about what they see.
- Students Pair-Share their thoughts then groups may share out.
- Students then conduct a WebQuest research project on the Tatoosh Lighthouse. Direct them to the following websites:
- Students should choose three web pages or articles on websites to read. You may choose any three topics or stories that are interesting to you from the websites your teacher gave you. Fill in the chart linked here that includes the following information for each web page or article.
- Title of the article
- Three key pieces of information found in the article (in your own words)
- Copy and paste the URL (web address)
- Important quotation and explanation: Why did you choose that quotation?
- Students may compile their information gathered into a slideshow presentation and either present it live to small groups or the class or record a presentation for viewing online. Have students focus on the different groups involved in the discussion of Tatoosh Island and its lighthouse.
Muybridge, Eadweard. Cape Disappointment-Light House (mouth of Columbia River), 1st order fixed light, 232 feet above sea level, and fog bell / illustrated by Edw. J. Muybridge. 1870. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2006680955/.