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 entries 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 resemblance 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 nearly 150 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:
- Virtual Tour
- Poster
- Photographs
- Relevant 3D objects
Chicago Student Tour Guide: Places to Choose From
- Choose a site from our Chicago Itinerary
- Choose from these popular Chicago sites:
- Navy Pier
- Willis Tower
- John Hancock Building
- Marina City
- Wrigley Building
- Pritzker Pavilion
- Adler Planetarium
- Millienium Park
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Shedd Aquarium
- Chicago Board of Trade
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Old Water Tower
- Soldier Field
- United Center
- Trump Tower