Discovering, Researching, & Reporting on Landmarks

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Discovering, Researching, & Reporting on Landmarks

This lesson is designed to introduce landmarks to 5th graders, starting with local landmarks and moving to U.S. landmarks. Students will learn what landmarks are, practice researching and citing sources, and report on landmarks in various ways.

The main objective of this lesson is to have students research and report on a U.S. landmark. The Strand Theater is a local landmark that students may or may not be familiar with, but will learn its importance and analyze a photograph taken just before it opened in 1925. This is an important step because it will allow the student to study this landmark, not just as a building we have downtown, but as a part of our city’s history. The goal is to impart this line of thinking to the U.S. landmark on which the student researches and reports.

Location

Shreveport , LA

Type of Landmark

Building

Topics

Arts and Culture

Learning Objectives

  • The learner will analyze primary sources by using a guide to answer questions and observe.
  • The learner will research a landmark by learning and acquiring facts through the internet.
  • The learner will report on a landmark by compiling research into a powerpoint or brochure or report.

Materials

Suggested Instructional Procedures

1. Put up the primary source photograph of The Strand Theater from 1925, just before opening day, in pieces—add 1 piece at a time—have students make guesses as to what this is. Once it is guessed, or if not guessed, then the picture will show in its entirety.

2. Students will analyze this photograph using a primary source analysis sheet in small groups. 

3. Once picture is displayed and students have analyzed the source, then discuss: the date of the picture & clues of the date, what this is and what it is used for (and could have been used for).

4. Give personal stories about The Strand Theater: story about my grandma seeing “Gone with the Wind” at the theater. Allow students to share experiences they have had with The Strand, if any.

5. Introduce the vocabulary words. Discuss definitions.

6. In small groups, students will research The Strand Theater and put research and sources on a pre-made research sheet. 

Students will research at this site: https://www.thestrandtheatre.com/about/

After researching, student groups will create a PowerPoint or brochure about their research that includes source(s) cited, a picture/photograph, and all vocabulary words.

7. Independent Project: Students will choose a U.S. landmark to research and report on. Students will use the research sheet to document research. Then students will create a PowerPoint, brochure, or report about their research. The must cite sources and include at least one photograph. Students must also include as many vocabulary words as appropriate, and create a list of 3-5 new vocabulary words.

Vocabulary

Primary Source: A document or account that was written or expressed sometime in the historical past.

Vaudeville: A genre of variety entertainment developing from many influences such as concert saloons, minstrelsy, freak shows, among other influences.

National Register of Historic Places: The offical list of sites deemed worthy of preservation by the U.S. government. It was created by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Landmark: A recognizable landscape, building, or monument that helps to define a community. 

End of Lesson Assessment

1. Activities 1-5: Students will be scored on participation and primary source analysis.

2. Activity 6: Students will be scored on group work and final product.

3. Activity 7: Students final product will be evaluated.