Growing up Sunset
QUESTIONS LINKED TO PHOTOS
Issues for Today:
(THIS SECTION IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE STUDENTS. THIS IS FOR THE TEACHER TO CONSIDER AND FIND APPROPRIATE WAYS TO WORK INTO THE CURRICULUM WITHOUT CAUSING UNNECESSARY DISTRESS TO THE STUDENTS)
Jobs – Sunset Park needs more entry level jobs, with “career ladders” so that our residents can earn a living while developing skills for higher paying jobs.
Housing – The cost of housing in Sunset Park has become so high that many of our local residents no longer can afford to live here. We need to develop more affordable housing targeted for local residents.
Crime – While crime is at an all-time low, there is a slow rise being seen. We need to make our community more informed about how to avoid being a crime victim.
Health Care – Sunset Park has several specific health issues – food poisoning, hepatitis B and Tuberculosis are concerns.
Air Quality – Over 200,000 trucks and cars pass through Sunset Park on the Gowanus Expressway each day – we need to monitor the air quality so that we can work to make our air cleaner.
Mental Health – In the modern days it seems life brings all sorts of stress to us. It is important that we provide proper guidance and assistance to people who are experiencing stress that negatively impacts their lives.
Addictions – Alcoholism, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, smoking are important issues that we must give more attention to.
Homelessness – We need to provide proper support and services for our community’s homeless.
Education – Our schools are overcrowded. We need more schools so that classes can be made smaller and every school can have a gym, ,library and special resource rooms.
Thought Provoking Questions:
(TEACHERS CAN USE THESE QUESTIONS, WITH MODIFICATION FOR THE GRADE LEVEL. STUDENTS CAN BE PAIRED OR PUT INTO SMALL GROUPS TO REVIEW THE HISTORIC PHOTOS AND DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF SUNSET PARK IN TERMS OF THESE QUESTIONS. STUDENTS CAN DISCUSS THE PHOTOS AMONG THEMSELVES, COME TO CONSENSUS AND THEN REPORT TO THE CLASS THEIR CONCLUSIONS. THE TEACHER CAN THEN LEAD THE DISCUSSION TOWARDS POSITIVE UNDERSTANDINGS.)
Picture #1
Motivational Question: What do you think this building was used for?
What does this building look like?
This was a police station, why do you think they built it to look like this?
This building is a NYC Landmark, why do you think the community wanted to save it?
What is the role of the police in the community?
What is the hardest part of a policeman’s job?
What is the best part of a policeman’s job?
Vocabulary: turret, architecture, stable
Picture #2
Motivational Question: Why is that soil piled in the middle of the street?
Why are there no cars on the street?
Under that dirt is the new subway, how did the subway change Sunset Park?
Why would a person use the subway instead of a car?
What other types of transportation are there in a city?
Vocabulary: subway, median, express
Picture #3
Motivational Question: Why don’t we still have buildings like this in Sunset today?
What time of year was this photo taken? How do you know?
Do you see the chimneys? What are they for?
What do you think was in the house? What furniture? What appliances?
Would you have liked to have lived in those days?
Vocabulary: chimney, fireplace, appliance
Picture #4
Motivational Question: What kinds of activities would take place on this waterfront?
What powered the windmill in the background?
What was a windmill used for?
What powered the sailboat?
What powered the rowboat?
Vocabulary: sailboat, windmill, shoreline
Picture #5
Motivational Question: Should cemeteries be near where people live
Why did they need a building in the cemetery?
Do you think a cemetery is scary? Why?
What purposes does a cemetery serve?
Vocabulary: cemetery, tombstone, cottage
Picture #6
Motivational Question: Why do you think the lake was removed?
How does a lake differ from an ocean?
What things can a person use a lake for?
The lake is now gone, what would you put in place of the lake?
Vocabulary: lake, ocean, river
Picture #7
Motivational Question: What problems are associated with such large scale construction?
What are derricks (cranes) used for?
Instead of a highway for cars and trucks what else could have been built?
How do you think the people felt about this being built in their neighborhood?
Vocabulary: derrick, transportation, expressway
Picture #8
Motivational Question: What would be a reason to keep this house?
Why are old houses torn down?
Why do people like to save old houses?
Would you rather live in an old house or a new house? Why?
Vocabulary: preservation, landmark, heritage
Picture #9
Motivational Question: What recreational activities are available for young people in Sunset Park today?
Why aren’t these kids sledding in the park?
What is the fun in riding a sled on snow?
Where are all the cars?
Vocabulary: sled, sleigh, recreation
Picture #10
Motivational Question: What would a day in a perfect school be like?
What is the purpose of a school?
What is the best thing about schools?
What is the worst thing about schools?
What changes would you make to make your school even better?
Vocabulary: education, academic, vocational
Picture #11
Motivational Question: Where do people need to travel to and from each day and how can this best be done?
Why would they build a train high above the street?
What disadvantage is there to an elevated train?
Why would there be only one train car?
Vocabulary: elevated, advantage, disadvantage
Picture #12
Motivational Question: How do goods/supplies get delivered to stores and homes and how can this best be done?
Where do you think this photo was shot from?
What kind of boats do you see in the bay?
There are so many ships in the bay, what cargo do you imagine they are carrying?
Vocabulary: mausoleum, cargo, pier
Picture #13
Motivational Question: What is the difference between a town and a neighborhood?
How many blocks would you imagine are from 17th to 65th, from the water to 8th Ave?
How many buildings would you imagine are in Sunset Park?
How many people would you imagine live in Sunset Park?
Vocabulary: aerial, estimate, approximate
Picture #14
Motivational Question: Which retail stores/offices/businesses are needed in a community?
What kind of stores do people need in a neighborhood?
What do retail stores do for a neighborhood?
What problems do retail stores face?
Vocabulary: retail, wholesale, competition
Picture #15
Motivational Question: How can a building be constructed and equipped to prevent fire?
A pier is where ships “park” to load & unload, why would they put a roof on the pier?
A terrible fire destroyed everything except the metal frame, why is it all bent?
What would you have done to protect against fire?
Vocabulary: wharf, berth, extinguish
Picture #16
Motivational Question: Through the years goods have been transported in many ways, can you make a list of ways and imagine what it may be like in the future?
This is the pier shed before the fire. Can you tell how they load and unload the ships?
What goods do you imagine they would bring to Sunset Park?
What goods do you imagine we would send away on ships from Sunset Park?
Vocabulary: import, export, breakbulk
Picture #17
Motivational Question: What steps could countries take to avoid wars?
What do you think these people were thinking waiting for their family members?
The returning soldiers were coming by ship, how do most people travel today?
What questions would these people ask their returning relatives?
Vocabulary: journey, passenger, arrival
Picture #18
Motivational Question: What kinds of disagreements cause classmates to argue/fight? How can that be avoided?
The soldiers were returning home after being away for a long time. What do you think would
be some of the things they would want to do when they returned home?
If you were gone for a long time, what would you want most when you got home?
How can people settle problems without fighting or going to war?
Vocabulary: military, battle, enlist
Picture #19
Motivational Question: How is a beach different than a “working” waterfront?
What types of waterfront activities do you see in this painting?
What other ways can the waterfront be used?
What would be good and what would be bad about living by the water?
Picture #20
Motivational Question: Why would a company use boats to move their goods rather than trucks, trains or planes?
What are ferries used for? What has replaced most ferries?
Why did they need a fireboat? Do we still need them today?
What other types of ships do you know of and what are they used for?
Vocabulary: dock, tugboat, float
Picture #21
Motivational Question: Can you draw a “floor plan” showing an apartment with bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, windows, doors and other rooms?
What materials are Sunset Park homes made of?
What types of buildings do we have in Sunset Park?
What is good about living in Sunset Park?
Vocabulary: row house, brownstone, co-op
Picture #22
Motivational Question: Libraries are known for having books. What would you have in libraries of the near future?
The building on the left is a library, why do we need libraries?
The workers are finishing the 4th Ave subway. What are the various ways you travel during your daily routine?
Horses not engines are pulling these carts, what do horses need compared to engines?
Vocabulary: engine, library, compare