The Great Old Buildings of Chicago
by
Patricia Weichle
As an introduction to "The Great Old Buildings of Chicago" distribute the project
"Look Who's In Our Own Backyard." Read through and complete this lesson the first day.
Show the 30-minute video, "The Loop: Where the Skyscraper Began" on the second day. Before viewing the video, explain that each child will be responsible for writing down the names of three buildings he/she would like to research. The teacher will decide which building each student will research after going through the choices written by the students.
On the third day, the students will gather information about their building by using Great Buildings of Chicago Knowledge Cards, developed by the Chicago Historical Society. The information will be used to develop a short speech about their building to be given the next day. During the speech, the children will display a picture of their building on the classroom television obtained from the Chicago Historical Society Website.
On the fourth day, short presentations will be given by each student. This will include a 1-2 minute speech and viewing a large picture of the building on the classroom television.
On the fifth day, the teacher will show pictures of the buildings on the classroom television to see how many the students can identify.
GOALS:
Students will be able to identify many great old buildings in Chicago
Students will become familiar with some of the architects who built these buildings
Students will have an appreciation of how skyscrapers were built.
MATERIALS AND WEBSITES
"Look Who's in Our Own Backyard!" written by Patricia Weichle, June 2001.
The Loop: Where the Skyscraper Began, (a video) PERSPECTIVES: Films/Videos, Box 565, Wilmette, Illinois 60091
GREAT BUILDINGS OF CHICAGO KNOWLEDGE CARDS, The Chicago Historical Society
OUTLINE OF PROJECT
Present "Look Who's In Our Own Backyard!"
Answer any questions the students may have
View Video The Loop: Where the Skyscraper Began
Use Knowledge Cards from Chicago Historical Society and Chicago Historical Society Website
Children will show building he/she has researched and give short speech
Teacher will show all buildings the students have chosen to see how many they can identify.
The length of this project is approximately 5 days.
FOR FUTURE LEARNING:
Take a Walking Tour with class to view buildings in Chicago
Take a Field Trip to the Art Institute to see Exhibit of Miniature Buildings
Ask Kevin and Diane Kemp (Architects from Riverside) to come and talk to the class