Overview

Guide young people in observing, describing, and analyzing local or global monuments. Through multimedia research, writing, and discussion, respond to the questions: Who's history do they include and who do they exclude? Which monuments would you take down and what new monuments would you put up?

Monuments to individuals, historical events, or movements have been created throughout time and around the world, in cities and towns big and small. Sometimes we pass them by without even knowing who or what they depict, and other times they elicit anger, offense, and a call to remove them. This activity asks teens to weigh in on the global debate around how monuments reflect our society and what should be done when they no longer represent our communities.