Bring in copies of pictures from school yearbooks through the decades, and ask the students to bring in copies of their own school pictures from past years and the current one. Ask the students to notice the differences amongst the picture, such as how the lighting has changed, black and white pictures versus color pictures and the clarity of the photo. Have each student conduct research on one of the ways photography has changed.
Use school pictures to have students investigate the ways in which people make assumptions about people based on appearances. Distribute school pictures of individuals that the students know, but would not recognize as a child. Examples include the president of the United States or even yourself. Ask the students to make assumptions about the person based on the picture, and at the end, reveal who the person is and if the assumptions were correct. Use this as a lead in to a research project on how people make incorrect assumptions or form stereotypes.
Talk with the company doing the school pictures to see if the students could interview them while they are there. Have a couple of students shadow the photographers to learn about the field. They should also ask interview questions about how the person got the job she has, what her favorite piece of equipment is or what type of schooling is required to become a school picture photographer. Have the students share their findings with one another.
Have students investigate a particular era in history, such as the Civil Rights Movement or the No Child Left Behind Legislation through school pictures. They can either analyze pictures of students in school in traditional yearly school photographs or the pictures of actual physical school buildings. Have the students create a history through a pictures production, whether it is on PowerPoint, on a poster board or another medium of the students' choosing. They should explain what the pictures teach them about that period.