• Become familiar and navigate the St. Louis Virtual City Web Site
• Identify Luther Ely Smith, his contributions to and the significance of the Jefferson National Expansion Museum to the History of St. Louis
• Develop concepts regarding the use of symbols in culture
• Use primary source documents to support ideas/conclusions
• Acquire basic background information on the Arch and the process of building, selecting and implementing monuments
  

Show Me Standards Social Studies 2, 6, 7 Goals: 1.1, 1.9, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.7, 4.5

Warm-Up

• Have students list or identify notable, recognizable symbols from the city of St. Louis, Missouri, the United States and countries around the world. Have student brainstorm as a class or journal about the importance of symbols in our lives
• Have students design a symbol that would represent himself or herself or an event they are involved in. Have students discuss the use of symbols in neighborhoods and in history. (i.e. the swastika, the cross, the royal coat of arms, colors,) * It also works to do this lesson with flags or using school symbols and colors to get students talking.

Process

• Have Students navigate the Virtual City Web Site and take a walking and flying tour of 1950’s.

Students can then do one or more of the following activities:

• In small groups, have students’ research on the Virtual City Web Site alternative locations for our city’s symbol. Have students link to the Jefferson National Museum Web Page and investigate the history behind the building of the arch. Have students tour the web site and give supporting evidence as to where a placing of a city monument would be significant. Finally, students will be required to select another symbol of the city of St. Louis and show historical justification for the use of this symbol.
• Using the Virtual City 1950’s primary source documents, students should read all of the letters from Luther Ely Smith and the response of the White House. Students will then be asked to:
• Read Luther Ely Smith’s biographical sketch. Write him a letter telling him what the Arch means to you.
• Select another individual on the 1950’s people page and read their biography sketch. Students will then draft a letter to that individual inviting them to also speak at the dedication ceremony.
• In keeping with the biography of the selected individual, students should prepare a 5-minute speech that this person could have given at the dedication.
• Students will tour the down town area of Virtual City Web Site. Students should then make notes, work with a partner and design a brochure for St. Louis in the 1950’s promoting visiting the city and especially the Jefferson National Expansion Museum.