Every Building Tells a Story
Developed by
Elizabeth Wendt
Suggested Length
Lesson #1: Three 80 minute classes
Lesson # 2: Two 80 minute classes
Lesson # 3: Three 80 minute classes
Lesson #4: Four+ 80 minute classes
Suggested Grade Level(s)
10, 11, 12
Subject Areas
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
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Photo of Queen’s Square, RH Collection, CAG H-8890.7
All Saints Anglican Church Springhill Mines, N.S., W.C. Harris, CAG H8156
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
Objective
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.
Related Art Works
 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.
Ideas for Assessment
Students could present their images to the class or the school in the form of a
gallery tour.
Lesson #2: Building Relationships
Objective
Students will interview a local architect and compare the role of the
19th century architect to that of an architect at the beginning of the
21st century. Through observation, discussion, and inquiry, students
will understand how the needs of a community are reflected in
building design.
Related Art Works
 All Saints Anglican Church Springhill Mines, N.S., W.C. Harris, CAG H8156
 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 19th
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)
Ideas for Assessment
Using knowledge gained from the lesson, students could design a public building.
Lesson #3: Places and Traces
Objective
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.
Related Art Works
 All Saints Anglican Church Springhill Mines, N.S., W.C. Harris, CAG H8156
 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 19th 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
19th 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.
Ideas for Assessment
Evaluation might be based on a rubric and/or a student produced catalogue
documenting the working process.
Lesson #4: Under Construction
Objective
Students will construct a model that reconfigures an historic area in
their community so that it suits the needs of the 21st century.
Related Art Works
 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.
Ideas for Assessment
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)
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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)