Introduce the landmark you wish to study with your students. For example, if your class is studying Mt. Rushmore, show images of the monument so students have a visual representation of how it looks. Give the students basic facts such as when and why it was built. You can tell the students that Mt. Rushmore was created by John Gutzon Borglum, who was quoted as saying: "Hence, let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the works of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were." Include other basic facts such as the location of the landmark and the dates of construction to round out the introduction.
After learning cursory information about the monument, create an assignment asking students to learn more about that monument. Determine whether you want independent study or groups for these activities. Younger children might have simpler assignments such as creating a fact card with five facts about a given monument, while you may ask older students to write an in-depth two-page paper about the history, construction and preservation of the monument. Turn the activity into an oral report by asking students to share information they learned about the monuments from the fact cards or read their paper aloud.
Assign projects about landmarks to help students learn about the monument. For example, you might ask students to create a diorama using clay to sculpt the landmark. If studying multiple landmarks, ask students to pinpoint the locations of landmarks on an actual map using push-pins or tacks to indicate the places. Then ask the students to research facts and list them on the map. Alternatively, have the students make an actual book about landmarks. Dedicate each page to a different aspect of one landmark, such as the design plans, construction and completion, or dedicate each page of the book to a different landmark altogether.
Select a monument in your area and take the class on a field trip to view the landmark as a class. Many landmarks offer guided tours or special school programs that provide worksheets or even Internet activities for a myriad of grade levels. Prior to taking the field trip, carve out class time to introduce the landmark; then after viewing the site, instruct students to complete the worksheets or explore the website, write a report or hold a class discussion about why the landmark is an important piece of history.
Additional activities for teaching children about landmarks include watching educational videos followed by having the children complete worksheets that reinforce the information provided in the videos. Or, create a reenactment play, using the events surrounding the landmark. For example, if your class is studying The Alamo, instruct the students to write a play about the events leading up to the infamous battle. After writing the play, instruct the students to rehearse and perform the play in costume for other classmates. Finally, if a historical society is associated with a given landmark, invite a speaker into the classroom from the society to give a presentation about the landmark.