Using the original WPA "Points of Interest" and the "Now vs. Then"
photographs, divide the class into teams. (The number of teams depends
upon the number of students in the class.) Have each team compare and
contrast what the sites look like on the original WPA Points of Interest and
what the sites look like now.
Have each team focus upon the following questions for each site:
Has the location of the site changed?
What about the architecture?
Is it the same as it was?
Is it a "green pasture," or now the location of public housing?
Is it still a leading business or a deserted building?
Do children still play they or have they found a new playground?
Is it still the largest of its kind, or now is it the smallest?
Is it still the only of its kind, or has something followed in its
footsteps?
Did the industry survive, or has technology intervened?
Are the old homes still owned by the same families, or are they occupied
by newcomers?
Now have the teams make a chart that displays the differences. Also,
have them answer the ten questions above. When completed, have each team
give a five-minute oral presentation on the differences they found.
The
assignment should be worth a minimum of 50 points.