Education Resources
Space Explorers
Activity Ideas
March 2008
‘Space Explorers’ is a project aimed at encouraging young people to explore and examine the places in which they live. This resource is a selection of activities suggested to (and in some cases trialled by) a group of architects/architectural assistants who have volunteered their time to run the project in schools across the North East. They are to be borrowed, stolen and adapted by anyone wishing to help young people make sense of the buildings, spaces and places in which they live.
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 334 KB
Architectural Photography
Photographers' Tips
October 2007
A series of simple but effective tips to help pupils make the most of their digital cameras when documenting architecture. Written by Louise Taylor and used to support teachers during a CPD Day held in September 2007.
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 44 KB
ArchiTEXTS
Poetry Activity
October 2007
An easy to use frame for writing poetry in response to a building, space or place. Written by Maureen Almond, this helpsheet outlines some simple steps in which even the most nervous writer can create a poem:
'The whole idea with this approach is to help students build a template for themselves on which they can ‘hang’ a poem. I think to ask people who are unused to writing poetry, simply to write a poem can be quite daunting. By the time they have ‘built a template’ most of the really hard work is done – they have done the thinking, creating and also in a way, the planning too. This technique can be applied no matter what the subject, all that is necessary is that you vary the questions to make them relevant.'
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 50 KB
Drawing Buildings
Tips & Hints
October 2007
A list of suggestions to help pupils get the most out of drawing buildings, spaces and places whilst on location. Written by artist Vicky Holbrough, the tips and hints focus on materials, composition, mark making and perspective.
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 50 KB
Exploring Architecture
Teachers' Suggestions
October 2007
This resource is a list of suggestions made by teachers during a training day held in September 2007. It outlines some ways in which architecture could be linked into the National Curriculum and become a stimulus for learning in and outside the classroom. Use the ideas to develop activities for your pupils and let us know how they went.
If you have tried any of these activities or devised your own, let us know how they went and we will put your ideas and tips on the website.
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 133 KB
Questioning Architecture
Key Stages 2 - 5
September 2007
Questioning Architecture is a simple resource aimed at encouraging pupils to understand and critique buildings, places and spaces. Use the question cards to initiate discussion and debate about the good, the bad and the ugly by using one of six starting points:
- People
- Place
- Space
- Shape
- Colour & Light
- Material
To use the resource, download and print on either A4 or A3 paper, cutting to size around the dotted lines. To create a handy set of cards for your pupils, punch a hole in the corner and thread with a piece of ribbon or a spare key ring.
Questioning Architecture is also available as a printed resource, produced on high quality card and professionally bound.
Price: £5 including postage
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 6 MB
The Way We Live
2006
The Way We Live involved architecture students from Newcastle University and local young people in a series of investigations into their environments.
The full colour publication, whilst not written as a toolkit or a curriculum resource, outlines the tools and techniques used during the project, which could easily be replicated in other learning situations. The publication outlines the project’s aims, activities and outcomes and is essential reading for anyone interested in identifying tried and tested tools and techniques for engaging young people in regeneration processes.
The Way We Live_ is also available as a printed resource.
Price: £5 inlcuding postage
Adobe Acrobat PDF | 2 MB
