Every Building Tells a Story Developed by Suggested Length Suggested Grade Level(s) Subject Areas Elizabeth Wendt Lesson #1: Three 80 minute classes Lesson # 2: Two 80 minute classes Lesson # 3: Three 80 minute classes Lesson #4: Four+ 80 minute classes 10, 11, 12 Social Studies, Visual Arts Language Arts, Housing Overview A building is a window into the past. It tells us stories about people. In this unit students will expand their understanding of their heritage and culture through the examination of architectural images and exploration of Charlottetown architecture. The unit could readily be adapted to your local community. Links to Curriculum Outcomes Students will (be expected to) use spatial concepts and models to interpret and make decisions about the organization, distribution, and interaction of physical and human phenomena (Social Studies) apply concepts associated with time, continuity, and change (Social Studies) derive images through the study of historical images from their own and other s cultures (Visual Arts) ask discriminating questions to acquire, interpret, analyze, and evaluate ideas and information (Language Arts) Links to Telling Stories: Themes / Key Words Art as source for historical information Photos as documentary and art Setting, time, and place Art Work(s) Market day Queen s Square Charlottetown, Robert Harris, CAG H-115 Hillsborough Square, Charlottetown P.E.I., Robert Harris, CAG H-221 Queen Street, Charlottetown, Robert Harris, CAG H-122 On Charlottetown Square, Robert Harris, CAG H-121 Photo of Roger s Home Robert Harris Collection, CAG H-1911A Old St. Dunstan s Cathedral with Parliament Buildings, RH Collection, CAG H-1892
Photo of Queen s Square, RH Collection, CAG H-8890.7 All Saints Anglican Church Springhill Mines, N.S., W.C. Harris, CAG H- 8156 St. Cuthbert s Roman Catholic Church, St. Teresa s, P.E.I., W.C. Harris, CAG H-8186 All Soul s Chapel, Charlottetown W.C. Harris, CAG H-8187 Methodist Chapel, Robert Harris, CAG H-193 Lesson #1: Timely Transformations Students will examine images from the past that depict buildings and towns from their own communities. They will compare these images with photographs taken at the present locations and will exhibit them side-by-side. Market day, Queen s Square, Charlottetown, Robert Harris, CAG H-115 Hillsborough Square, Charlottetown P.E.I., Robert Harris, CAG H-221 Queen Street, Charlottetown, Robert Harris, CAG H- 122 On Charlottetown Square, Robert Harris, CAG H-121 Photo of Roger s Home, Robert Harris Collection, CAG H-1911A Old St. Dunstan s Cathedral with Parliament Buildings, RH Collection, CAG H-1892 Photo of Queen s Square, RH Collection, CAG H-8890.7 Materials a recent map of the local town or community cameras and film Activities 1. Show students images (drawings, paintings, and/or photos) of old Charlottetown by Robert Harris. 2. Discuss how time has affected the places people inhabit and how they live: What changes have occurred in the last one hundred years that might have changed the look of a town? Why have some towns grown larger while other towns have almost disappeared? Identify visible changes to the buildings. 3. Have students research their own city, town, or community. Local archives and heritage societies are good sources of information.
Challenge students to find images that document city streets from earlier times and make photocopies of these images. Have students research the history and/or stories behind these buildings. Have them identify what the buildings are and where they are located, using a recent street map. 4. Arrange a walking tour of the community and have students photograph the existing locations. Consider: How have the buildings changed in appearance? Why have they changed? Has their purpose changed? Why might that be? 5. This can lead to further discussions on the dynamics of change and how the past affects the present and the future. 6. Have students exhibit the pairs of images side by side and include historical and anecdotal information. Students could present their images to the class or the school in the form of a gallery tour. Lesson #2: Building Relationships Students will interview a local architect and compare the role of the 19 th century architect to that of an architect at the beginning of the 21 st century. Through observation, discussion, and inquiry, students will understand how the needs of a community are reflected in building design. All Saints Anglican Church Springhill Mines, N.S., W.C. Harris, CAG H- 8156 St. Cuthbert s Roman Catholic Church, St. Teresa s, P.E.I., CAG H-8186 All Soul s Chapel, Charlottetown, W.C. Harris, CAG H-8187 Materials paper pencil copies of modern blueprints
Activities 1. Share with students the floor plans, elevations, and architectural drawings by William Critchlow Harris. Have students compare them to modern blueprints. As a class, discuss the role of the architect in planning a building. 2. In small groups, have students compose questions they would ask an architect about his/her work. These might include such as: What does the architect have to consider when planning a structure? (cost, purpose, aesthetics, physical limitations) With whom does he/she collaborate? What kinds of buildings do modern architects tend to design? Is the role of the modern architect different from that of 19 th century European influenced architects? 3. Invite a local architect into the classroom and ask her/him to bring blueprints and information that document the process of designing a structure. Have students interview the architect using their prepared questions. Computer Option Research key words such as Architectural Styles and Architect. Possible Extension Have students research famous architects on the Internet (e.g., Frank Lloyd Wright, Gaudi, Le Corbusier) Using knowledge gained from the lesson, students could design a public building. Lesson #3: Places and Traces Students will examine local historic buildings and architectural styles from the past to understand and appreciate their heritage resources. They will make a visual map of historical styles in their community that show our connection to the past. All Saints Anglican Church Springhill Mines, N.S., W.C. Harris, CAG H- 8156 All Soul s Chapel, Charlottetown, W.C. Harris, CAG H-8187 Methodist Chapel, Robert Harris, CAG H-193
Activities 1. In the classroom, review architectural styles that were commonly used in 19 th century buildings (e.g., Italianate, Greek Revival, Georgian). Have students research and produce a list of these styles using the websites in the Suggested Resources listed below. 2. View works by the Harris brothers that illustrate the architecture of 19 th century Charlottetown (see Art Works list above). Using what they have learned through their research, have students identify the various styles that are used in the construction of these buildings. 3. Organize a walking tour of Charlottetown s historic center (or your own community). 4. Using their lists, have students identify examples of different architectural styles. Have students take photographs, make rubbings and/or sketches, focussing on architectural details. (This activity could be structured as a treasure hunt) These can serve as material for creating a mural or collage that documents the architectural history of a community. Possible Extensions The images could be a resource for constructing a mural of clay tiles in relief that depicts architectural details in the community. Alternatively, students could approach the project from a different point of view either a bird s eye or a worm s eye view. What s on top? What s underneath? Etc. Evaluation might be based on a rubric and/or a student produced catalogue documenting the working process. Lesson #4: Under Construction Students will construct a model that reconfigures an historic area in their community so that it suits the needs of the 21 st century. Market day, Queen s Square, Charlottetown, Robert Harris, CAG H-115 Hillsborough Square, Charlottetown P.E.I., Robert Harris, CAG H-221 Queen Street, Charlottetown, Robert Harris, CAG H-122 On Charlottetown Square, Robert Harris, CAG H-121
Materials a variety of model building materials (foam core sheets, balsa wood, etc.) x-acto knives white glue a variety of painting materials (tempera, acrylic, watercolour) Activities 1. Introduce students to Harris drawing of the market square and compare it with the site today (Confederation Centre of the Arts). View other images from old Charlottetown such as Queen s Square and Queen s Street (see Art Works list). 2. As a whole class, have students discuss how the needs of society have influenced architectural designs. And conversely, how has architecture influenced society? 3. Working in small groups, have students construct an architectural model that addresses some of the following questions: What are peoples needs? How is society organized? How would you like it to be organized? How does architecture influence relationships between people? What is the relationship between style and use, form and function? 4. Students may use styles researched in previous lessons to construct their models. 5. Research and demonstrate model-building techniques. If possible, organize a class visit to an architect s office to view examples of architectural models. 6. Exhibit the finished models with appropriate documentation and commentary. Computer Option Research architectural styles on the Internet. Invite an architect to evaluate the models using set criteria. Suggested Resources Design Guidelines for the Preservation of Historic Resources in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Tom Ward, City of Charlottetown, 1992)
http://www.greatbuildings.com/types.html (information and images of architectural styles and building types through the ages) http://www.realtormag.com/rmomag.nsf/pages/archindex?opendocument (definitions of styles and examples of buildings)