Lesson 5: Documenting Landmarks

Students explore ways of documenting their landmarks by creating visual displays.

(Adapted from Teaching Landmarks)

Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts, Art

Grade Levels: 5-9

Time Frame: 2 class periods

Materials Needed:

• Camera and film for each student

• Reflecting Worksheet

Learning Objectives: Students will:

1. Document and create an exhibition featuring landmarks

2. Work collaboratively to choose how they will exhibit their work

3. Reflect upon what they have done

Procedure:

1. Have students document their chosen landmarks by taking photographs of their landmark and its features.

2. Have students exhibit their work through photographs, drawings, essays, websites, posters, videotape, etc.

3. Have students work on the Reflecting worksheet.

4. Discuss with students the following:

• In what ways, if any, have your ideas about landmarks changed from the beginning exploration of your own personal special place to the completion of the exhibition?

• What would you like others to know about landmarks?

• Has the exhibition succeeded in conveying important ideas about landmarks? Why or why not?

• Would you like to see your exhibition travel to other places, to other students or communities? Why or why not?

Extension

Have students consider donating their collection of work to their local library; or by assembling their images to create a photo collage mural, project website/booklet, walking tour booklet or conduct a walking tour.

Reflecting

Write your ideas about the photographs you have made. Consider these questions:

• Why did you select this particular landmark to photograph?

• What does this landmark say about you? About your community?

• Why should this landmark be preserved?

• Are you happy with your completed photograph? Why or why not?

• What, if anything, would you change? Why?

• What do you want viewers to think about when they see your photograph?

• In what ways has the process of thinking, talking, and writing about special places and landmarks been important to you?

• In what ways has the process of creating photographs been important to you?

References

Built Environment

Lesson 5: Documenting Landmarks

Students explore ways of documenting their landmarks by creating visual displays.

Photography - General Guidelines
(not available at this time)
http://academy.pointofview.cc/modules/

Photographer Tasks
(not available at this time)
http://academy.pointofview.cc/modules/

Photograph Library Checklist
(not available at this time)
http://academy.pointofview.cc/modules/

Glenbow Archives Photographs
http://ww2.glenbow.org/search/archivesPhotosSearch.aspx

Alberta WorldWeb Travel Guide: Photo Gallery
http://www.discoveralberta.com/PhotoGallery

Bob Kenyon's Old Edmonton Buildings Page
http://www.angelfire.com/ab4/bobk/oldeb.htm

City of Edmonton Archives

Over 250,000 historical photographs, dating from the 1880's, more than 100,000 slides currently housed are of a more contemporary nature. Much of the collection consist of negatives, slides, moving images and prints. An extensive collection of aerial photographs of the city dating from 1924 to 1988

Books

Edmonton's lost heritage / prepared by the Heritage Sites Selection Committee of the Edmonton Historical Board. Published: 1982

Edmonton : the life of a city / Bob Hesketh and Frances Swyripa, editors. 
Published: c1995. Articles: What Kind of a City is Edmonton? Edmontonians and the Legislature

Edmonton, gateway to the North : an illustrated history / by John F. Gilpin ; picture research by John E. McIsaac ; "Partners in progress" by Stanley Arthur Williams. Published: c1984.

[Top]

Lesson 1: Choosing Your Special Place

Lesson 2: Your Special Place Has a History

Lesson 3: What are Landmarks?

Lesson 4: Local Buildings and Landmarks

Lesson 5: Documenting Landmarks

Lesson 6: Creating a Local Historical Resources Inventory 

Lesson 7: Buildings in Time

Lesson 8: Remembering Local Structures

Download Built Environment Lesson 5 in Word Document format.