National Cathedral Stonemasons Work to Tell a More Truthful History
Ask students: Where is the National Cathedral located? When did Castelli start working with the crew at the National Cathedral?
The Washington National Cathedral hired its first female stonemason this year. She joins a team overseeing the installation of stone tablets that symbolize the cathedral’s mission to be a sacred gathering place where all Americans see themselves reflected. Bella Major has the story from the PBS News Student Reporting Labs.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who are Brianna Castelli and Joe Alonso?
- What is stone masonry?
- Where is the National Cathedral located?
- When did Castelli start working with the crew at the National Cathedral?
- How did Castelli first discover stone masonry?
Focus Questions
How have the new stained glass windows at the National Cathedral aimed to tell a more accurate, truthful story of American history?
Media literacy: Do you think more time needed to be spent on reviewing the events referenced in the story in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, including a white supremacist rally? Why or why not?
Extension Activity
- Explore architecture where you live: Go outside for a walk, take the bus, or ask a friend/family member to drive you around your town/city. What buildings do you see? Stores or office buildings? Houses of worship or schools? Choose a building and study its architecture.
- Walk around the building if you can, or take some quick notes as you drive past it. Take note of any "gargoyles" — meaning anything that sticks out or makes the building unique in some way.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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