School Trip Classroom Activity: Student Tour Guide of Chicago

This engaging classroom project will make your Chicago school trip even more meaningful. Your Chicago student tour guide will lead the way!

Chicago Student Tour Guide: The Assignment

It’s your turn to be the tour guide! Prepare a 5-7 minute speech that showcases one of the sites that we will visit during our Chicago trip. Your speech should include historical context of the site, architectural elements, a story, and relevant logistics. Your presentation must also incorporate visual aids. Get ready to shine the light on the Windy City!

Chicago Student Tour Guide: Speech Elements

History

Provide brief context or background for events that inspired the construction of the memorial, building, city,
or sculpture. For example, for the Tribune Tower, you could discuss how in1922, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the Chicago Tribune announced an international competition for a new downtown headquarters. More than 260 entires were received from 23 countries.

Architectural Elements

Discuss the symbolism, layout, or interesting facts about memorial/building design. For example, for the Tribune Tower, you could discuss the Art Deco elements of the building and the resemblence it has to the Butter Tower of the Rouen Cathedral in France.

Story

Tell a fun or interesting story pertaining to the memorial/building and/or the event it commemorates. For
example, for the Tribune Tower, you could share how the building has nearly150 stones from around the world embedded into its walls, including one from the Taj Mahal, Hagia Sophia, Parthenon, and the Great Wall of China

Logistics

Address any relevant information pertaining to bathrooms, photography, security, meeting time, etc.

Chicago Student Tour Guide: Visual Aids

Visual aids are essential context for your presentation. However, since tour guides do not implement Powerpoint, Prezi, etc. while on tour, this is not to be included. You may include one or more of the following: