In the following activity students will take pictures of architectural features in their community. Using the information provided in the Measured Drawings and the glossary, students will photograph or sketch building features they discover in their community and record the findings.

MATERIALS:

Students will all need to have the use of a camera. Any camera will work for the project. Try to borrow a camera if you don't have access to one. Many schools have cameras for students to use. Disposable cameras are fairly cheap and can be purchased in many stores. Try sketching the architectural feature if you prefer.

Taking Pictures: Make sure you take a notepad along to write down the building, its location and the corresponding film number to help you keep track of where the feature was taken. keep a record of the part of the building you are photographing, the aspect or elevation, and the number the photographs for each building. This way you will remember where the photos came from after the film is processed.

Making Drawings: Equip yourself with a clipboard or a small board to mount or tack paper on. Carry hard sharpened pencils, a good eraser and a ruler to assist you. This is a sketch and not a draftsman's rendering. Write on the sketch where the drawing was completed.

Notebook: Find a book that will be used only for this project. Choose a sketchbook, a scrapbook or a looseleaf book you can add pages into. The photographs you take will be pasted into the book. Write down the required information for each picture or group of pictures on the same page as the photo or sketch. A gluestick is probably the most professional way to attach pictures.

TIPS FOR FINDING FEATURES:

All small museums in the province have a community archives. The British Columbia Archival Union List contains databases for every community in the province. As well, British Columbia Archival Resources, provides links to other archival resources in British Columbia.

Complete research at your local library or look at local history books. Everyone will live in a different kind of community. Who knows what exciting buildings you might find! Imagine discovering a gothic arch on the crumbling old place everyone said was haunted. Think about decrepit cabins or industries such as old mines out in the bush, an old school or hotel, or crumbling old farms or barns. A cool church..... a graveyard. Try to remember older buildings you've seen around or buildings you always thought were interesting.

WARNING:

Remember, old buildings can be dangerous and they belong to someone. Stay on the outside and get permission if the building is on private property. DON'T GO WANDERING DOWN ANY OLD MINE SHAFTS.

YOUR PROJECT