| These activities can be done with the whole class,
or you can ask your students to search different localities, possibly
once you have made an initial selection of images. In a large town or
city you may wish to narrow the selection further to a district.
The activities can be used as part of a local study or for citizenship,
in particular KS2, Unit 9 section 4 'New uses for empty buildings'.
They can be adapted to suit the age and ability of your students, time
available or focus of your study. You will need to try the searches
yourself beforehand to make sure the results are valid for the chosen
locality.
· Ask students to search for all the listed buildings
in a defined locality; how many listed buildings are there?
· Are they all buildings? If not what other structures
are there?
· Do you know why buildings are listed? If not,
find out from the section of the web site called Listed
buildings and the listing process
· Choose one listed
building. [NB teachers are advised that not all listed buildings are
open to the public and that if you or your students wish to focus on
a private house issues of privacy and access must be considered]
· Print off the list description and explain
why you think it is listed. Click here
for help.
· Annotate the image from the list description.
Take 3 colours and underline the parts of the description that relate
to a) Type of building,
b) History and Dates and c)
Description. Label all the features mentioned
in the description.
· What else would you like to know about the history
of the building?
· Click here for information
on tracing the history of a building.
· Were you surprised to find that this building is listed?
If so, explain why.
· Do you think this building should be listed?
· Make 2 columns: Reasons why it should have been listed/Reasons
why it should not have been listed.
· Fill them in yourself and then ask 10 other people.
Try to include some adults and some young people, some people who have
known the building for a long time and some new to the area.
· How do the two columns compare? Was there any difference
in the views of different groups of people? Why did this happen?
· Do you still have the same idea about whether the building
should have been listed? If not why have you changed your mind?
· Are there any buildings in your area that have not
been listed but you think should have?
· Prepare a report giving the reasons why you think
it should be l isted,
do some research so that you have some facts to back up your ideas.
· Take some photographs to show different features and
look for old photographs showing how the building used to look and illustrating
how it has been used.
· Ask other people if they will write a letter
of support that you could attach your report.
· Write a proposal about the future use of the building.
Could it be put to a better use?
· Put your report on a school or community web site
and ask for comments.
· Is there a listed building in
your area that is in poor condition? You can check on the 'Buildings
at Risk' register to see if it is officially regarded as in danger.
· Search local newspapers [old editions should be kept
in your reference or local studies library] to find out why it is not
being looked after.
· Visit your local council offices and look at local
plans to see if anyone has plans for it.
· Compose a letter to send to the local newspaper
giving your views on the building and your ideas for what should happen
to it in the future.
Follow any of the links below for more information
on listed buildings
Listed buildings and the listing process :
Useful publications :
How to trace the history of a building
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