Flip the script and have your students be the tour guide! This engaging classroom project will deepen student engagement as they explore Philadelphia on their school trip.
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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia!
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 Philadelphia City Hall, you could briefly highlight details of the founding of City of Philadelphia.
Architectural Elements
Discuss the symbolism, layout, or interesting facts about memorial/building design. For example, with Philadelphia City Hall, you could share that this is the largest municipal building in the United States and that the exterior of the building is covered with allegorical figures and sculpture representing the seasons and continents.
Story
Tell a fun or interesting story pertaining to the memorial/building and/or the event it commemorates. For
example, at Philadelphia City Hall, you could tell stories pertaining to curse of Billy Penn or how William Penn set aside the Center Square for public buildings, but it took 200 years before the square was used for that purpose.
Logistics
Address any relevant information pertaining to bathrooms, photography, security, meeting time, etc.
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:
- Virtual Tour
- Poster
- Photographs
- Relevant 3D objects
Student Tour Guide:Â Places to Choose From
- Choose a site from our Philadelphia Itinerary
- Choose from these popular Philadelphia sites:
- B Free Franklin Post Office and Print Shop
- Ben Franklin Museum
- Betsy Ross House
- Cheesesteak History
- Christ Church
- Congress Hall
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Elfreth’s Alley
- Franklin Court
- Franklin Institute Science Museum
- Friendship Gate
- Independence Hall
- Liberty Bell Center
- US Mint
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Mutter Museum
- National Constitution Center
- National Liberty Museum
- Philadelphia City Hall
- Philadelphia Firsts
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Rocky Steps and Rocky Statue
