Our Architectural Heritage
Age Range: 7 to 11
Objective: Students will demonstrate an awareness of historical architectural characteristics, and analyze building styles and materials in regard to geographical location.
Possible Resources:
Reference materials that illustrate historic architecture, e.g.
* Wrenn & Mulloy, America’s Forgotten Architecture, National Trust for Historic Preservation.
* McCahon, Unusual Places in Helena.
* Baucus, Helena – Her Historic Homes – Vol. 1 & 2
Field trips to historic local buildings.
Guest speaker: architect or architectural historian.
Research local styles by interviewing present owners to find the date of
completion, original owners, unique style, problems in construction, etc.
Procedure:
- Have students observe buildings independently or in a field trip setting OR provide students with reference materials illustrating historic architecture.
- IF possible, provide students with a camera and slide film to add to their oral report. Rotate camera use through students in the class. Develop film and provide a slide projector.
- As a class, discuss historic preservation vs. the modernization of old buildings.
- Students will be asked to sketch, identify and describe three examples
of each of the following:
- Decorative concrete or brick cornices
- Decorative brickwork surrounding windows
- Engraved cornerstone
- Using words, sketches, magazine pictures or photographs, students will
be asked to describe two of the following:
- Spanish architectural style
- Tudor architectural style
- Victorian architectural style
- Alpine (Swiss) architectural style
- Teacher will ask students to write in a journal their opinion of the influence of geographical location (weather, available materials, etc.) on housing styles.
Assessment: Each student will give an oral report with illustrations of architectural detail. Also students will illustrate and explain the effect of geographical location on housing styles.
**Optional "fun" assessment: Copy pictures showing architectural styles either by photographing local architecture or from available reference books. Glue them in place on bingo cards. Play bingo by calling the names of the styles.
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