Teaching History Through Architecture
 Curricular Plan

Goals
Students will learn the history of their community and of the built environment in their community.
Students will become familiar with residential, commercial, and institutional architecture styles used in their community.
Students will know how to access primary sources useful in developing an understanding of community history and architecture.
Students will become familiar with institutions and museums which provide a source of information about community history and architecture
Students will use oral history interviews as a method of obtaining information about their community.Students will use the Internet to access web sites with information about their communities,
Students will learn to use desktop publishing as a method for presenting historical information about their community.
Students will learn how to create a website as a method for presenting historical information about their community.

Materials     (* available at the Southeast Historical Museum)
1980 / 1990 Local Community Fact Books (articles on South Chicago, South Deering,East Side and Hegewisch) *
History of Cook County, by A. T, Andreas (articles on South Chicago, Cummings (South Deering), Colehour (East Side), and Hegewisch. *
Blue Collar Community by William Kornblum (history of Wisconsin Steel and the South Deering Community) *
"History of Three Millgates" (histories of the communities of South Chicago, South Deering and East Side) *
 "Chicago's Southeast Side - Historical, Cultural, Ecological, Environmental Tour" by the Biology, Chemistry, I-Estory and Museology Classes of Washington High School *
Chicago's Southeast Side by Rod Sellers and Dominick Pacyga (a pictorial history of the four southeast communities of Chicago. *
Southeast Historical Museum collections on community history (includes primary source documents, historical photos, map collection, special collections on neighborhood history) *
"Community Discovery Kit" by The Chicago Neighborhood History Project available from the Chicago Metro History Education Center *
Chicago Land Use Survey by the Chicago Plan Commission *
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (available at Chicago Historical Society, Regional Archives at NEIU, and on microfilm at UIC Library)
City Building Permits (available at City Hall or on microfilm at UIC Library)
Chicago Historic Resources Survey *
"Your House Has A History" by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks *

 "Teaching History with Architecture" article in Illinois History Teacher Magazine Volume 5:2 1998 *
 "Teaching History with Photographs" article in Illinois History Teacher Magazine Volume 5:2 1998 *

Activities
Students will write a brief (2pp) history of their community or neighborhood emphasizing the built environment.
Teams of students (2 or 3 students) will study and report on major building types in the community (residences, apartments, churches, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and recreational buildings) Students will each complete a building survey form for one building of the type studied by their group.
Teams of students (3 or 4 students) will conduct block studies of various blocks in the community.  Block studies will consist of the following:
1)    a block history (2-3 pp written report)
2) survey of building types
3) a chart of structures on the block (date constructed, building style, architect, builder / developer)
4) photos of the block (historical and current)
5) maps of the block (Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, aerial maps, and historical maps)
6) oral history interview with a long time resident of the block
Students will create a booklet using Pagemaker software to present their findings.
Students will create web pages to present their findings and results on a website devoted to community history-

Evaluation
Students will be evaluated based on feedback from other students and the teacher during oral presentations of their finished projects
Students will also be evaluated based on feedback solicited from viewers of the website set up as part of this project. 
 
 

Rod Sellers
Washington High School

www.neiu.edu/~reseller

Click on the links at the left to
Chicago's East Side.