Learning & Discovery: Amazing Architecture - Wonders of the World
- Taylor Kurta
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Duration: 35 - 45 minutes
Best For: Residents who enjoy conversation, reflection, and learning-focused activities, and who engage well with discussion-based programs.
Goals: Inspire curiosity and socialization through visual exploration, storytelling, and trivia.
Description: From ancient pyramids to modern towers, architecture tells the story of human creativity, hope, and imagination. In this visual and interactive program, participants explore iconic buildings from around the world — learning surprising historical facts, engaging with simple trivia, and joining in gentle movement-based prompts tied to shapes and structures. Each building includes a short historical introduction, two trivia questions, and a hands-on interactive prompt accessible for all levels of engagement.
Materials:
Projector or large screen with slideshow (attatched) - Or printed photos if no screen
Optional: chart paper, display board, markers for “build your own structure” section at the end
Instructions and script (also provided below)
Flow:
Welcome & Introduction — 2 mins
Guided Exploration of 6–8 Structures — 25–30 mins
Group Design Activity (optional) & Closing — 5–10 mins
Adaptations and Facilitator Tips:
Shorten history sections for groups who benefit from less verbal load
Use more sensory prompts and encourage noticing, naming shapes, or moving hands rather than answering questions for less verbal groups
Instructions and Script
Welcome and Introduction (2 mins)
“Welcome, everyone! Today, we’re taking a trip around the world - exploring some of the most remarkable buildings ever created. We’ll look at photos together, learn surprising facts, answer some trivia questions, and finish by designing our own wonder of the world.”
Guided Exploration
Bring up slideshow.
Stop 1: The Great Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)
“The Great Pyramids were built more than 4,500 years ago during Egypt’s Old Kingdom. They were monumental tombs for the pharaohs, who were believed to become divine after death. The largest pyramid, built for Pharaoh Khufu, was the tallest structure on Earth for nearly 3,800 years.
Workers dragged limestone blocks weighing as much as elephants using sleds and ramps."
🧠 Trivia
True or False - The pyramids were once covered in smooth white limestone that shone brightly in the desert sun, visible from miles away.
Answer: True
How many sides does the Great Pyramid actually have? (Facilitator Tip - Encourage the group to look at the pyramid and count its sides before answering the question).
A) 4
B) 6
C) 8
Answer: C) 8 (each side is actually bent slightly inward, creating 8 sides!)
Sensory Prompt: “Let’s angle our hands like two sides of a pyramid, wide at the bottom, narrow at the top.” (model for the group)
Reflective Prompt: “If you could step inside the pyramid, what do you imagine you’d find?”
Stop 2: The Parthenon (Greece)
“Built around 447 BCE, the Parthenon was dedicated to Athena, the city’s protector. Inside once stood a 40-foot statue made of gold and ivory. Architects designed subtle curves in the columns and floors to create the illusion of perfect straightness. Over centuries, it served as a temple, a treasury, a church, and a mosque — and even survived an explosion in the 1600s.”
🧠 Trivia
What city is the Parthenon in? Clue: it relates to the name of the city's protector, Athena.
Answer: Athens
What was the Parthenon originally used for?
Answer: A temple
Sensory Prompt: “Let’s slowly lift our arms upward as if we’re helping raise a tall column into place…and gently lower them back down.” (model for the group)
Reflective Prompt: "Fun fact - the Parthenon was originally painted in bright colours like blue, red, and gold (point to the picture of what it would have looked like in ancient times). If you had built the Parthenon, what colours would you choose to paint it?"
Stop 3: The Taj Mahal (India)
“Built in the 1600s, the Taj Mahal was created by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. More than 20,000 artisans carved its walls, inlaid precious stones, and designed the extensive gardens.
The entire structure is perfectly symmetrical. The floral designs in the marble are so detailed that they appear almost real."
🧠 Trivia
What shape is the large central shape of the Taj Mahal?
A) A dome
B) A pyramid
C) A square
Answer: A) A dome
About how long did it take to build?
Answer: Over 20 years
Reflective Prompt: “Fun Fact: the Taj Mahal changes colour throughout the day — pink at sunrise, glowing white at noon, and golden at dusk.” Which colour do you think would be the most interesting to see it in?"
Stop 4: The Eiffel Tower (France)
“Completed in 1889 for the World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was built using 18,000 pieces of iron and millions of rivets. At the time, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.
Many Parisians hated it at first, calling it strange. But once it proved useful for radio transmission, it became irreplaceable. Today, the tower sparkles with thousands of lights every night.
✨ Fun Fact:The tower has a tiny private apartment at the top that Gustave Eiffel used for guests."
🧠 Trivia
How tall is the Eiffel Tower?
A) 200 feet
B) 500 feet
C) Over 1,000 feet
Answer: C) Over 1,000 feet
What city is the Eiffel Tower in?
Answer: Paris
Sensory Prompt: “Let’s raise both hands slowly upward — like we’re riding the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and then downwards as we take the elevator back down.” (Model for the group and repeat a few times).
Reflective Prompt: “Would you rather see the Eiffel Tower during the day or all lit up at night?”
Stop 5: The Colosseum (Italy)
“Completed in 80 CE, the Colosseum was the centre of public life in ancient Rome. It hosted plays, athletic competitions, and gladiator events. Its design included tunnels, trap doors, ramps, and even machines to lift animals into the arena. A massive canvas awning, operated by sailors, shaded spectators from the sun. Despite fires, earthquakes, and thousands of years of wear, the Colosseum remains a symbol of Rome’s engineering brilliance.”
✨ Fun Fact:The Colosseum was sometimes flooded to stage mock naval battles."
🧠 Trivia
What shape is the Colosseum?
A) Circle
B) Ova
lC) Square
Answer: B) Oval
How many people could it hold?
A) 500
B) 5,000
C) 50,000
Answer: C) 50,000
Reflective Prompt: “In ancient times, people gathered here for music, performances, competitions, and incredible spectacles of all kinds. If you were to attend an event here, what would it be?”
Stop 6: Sydney Opera House (Australia)
“Opened in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is famous for its sail-like roof made of enormous concrete shells. Engineers spent years figuring out how to build the curves. It sits on a site with deep cultural importance to the local Indigenous communities.
Inside are some of the world’s best acoustics for music, dance, and theatre.”
✨ "Fun Fact: The roof tiles aren't white — they’re a mix of matte and glossy cream tiles that shimmer in sunlight."
🧠 Trivia
How long did it take to build the Opera House?
A) 1 year
B) 5 years
C) 14 years
Answer: C) 14 years
True or False: The Sydney Opera House is one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
Answer: True
Sensory Prompt: “Let’s pretend we’re opera singers — take a big, open-chest breath and hold one hand to your heart like you’re about to sing a dramatic note.” (You can sing a note here or just pretend with your gestures).
Reflective Prompt: “Big voices, big bands, and big productions have filled these halls.
If you were at the Sydney Opera House, would you choose to see a powerful opera, a relaxing classical concert, a ballet, or something else?"
Stop 7: CN Tower (Canada)
“Completed in 1976, the CN Tower helped improve radio and TV signals for Toronto. Built using a continuous concrete pour called a ‘slipform,’ it grew taller every day until it reached its final height.
For more than 30 years, it was the tallest free-standing structure in the world. Today, the glass floor and high-speed elevator are iconic experiences.”
✨ "Fun Fact:The tower gets hit by lightning around 75 times each year."
🧠 Trivia
About how long does it take the high-speed elevator to reach the top?
A) 1 minute
B) 5 minutes
C) 10 minutes
Answer: A) 1 minute
True or false — the CN Tower has a restaurant that slowly rotates.
Answer: True
Reflective Prompt: “The CN Tower has a famous glass floor that lets you look straight down to the ground below — it’s completely safe, but it can feel a little thrilling! Has anyone here ever visited the CN Tower or seen the glass floor in person? If you were up there today, would you step onto the glass floor?"
Group Design Activity (optional) & Closing (5–10 mins)
“Now that we’ve explored so many amazing structures from around the world — from ancient pyramids to modern towers — let’s create one of our own! We’re going to design an imaginary building together. I’ll give a few choices, and you can call out (or point to) the one you like best.”
"So to start, should our building be tall or short?" (When given an answer continue asking questions and draw what they choose).
Questions to ask:
What kind of roof — pointy or round?
What should the outside be made of — glass, stone, or wood?
What colours should it have?
Where in the world should our building be located? (a city, a country, by the water, in the mountains — anywhere!)
What would be the purpose of our building?
“Wonderful — together we’ve created our very own wonder of the world!”
Closing Line: “Thank you for exploring architecture from around the world with me. These buildings show how creativity lasts across centuries!"
