Built Environment Unit Overview

Focus

Built environment education pertains to a great variety of places, objects, and processes. Critical thinking, responsible citizenship, cultural literacy, social relevancy; these concerns of educators can be addressed through teaching and learning about the built environment. Objects in the built environment can be used to enhance teaching and learning in core subjects of social studies, language arts, sciences, art, etc.

The five main themes of geography education can easily be connected to objects in the built environment. These five themes are:

1. location

2. place

3. human-environment interactions

4. movement of people, ideas, goods

5. formation and change of regions

Rationale

The tangible structures that humans have created (e.g., bridges, houses, factories, farms, monuments) including archaeological sites, historic landscapes, historic buildings and features of historical or architectural interest, designed parks, gardens and demesnes, industrial remains, shipwrecks and features of the shores and sea-bed all constitute the built environment. Together they form a precious resource for understanding and enjoying the past. Built heritage education occurs whenever we interact with the world around us. By directly experiencing, examining, and evaluating buildings, monuments, workplaces, landscapes, and other historic sites and artifacts--objects in our material culture and built environment--learners gain knowledge, intellectual skills, and attitudes that enhance their capacities for maintenance and improvement of our society and ways of living.

[Top]

Built Environment Overview

Integrating The Built Environment into the Curriculum

Built Environment Lessons (8)

Built Environment Reference Source for Lesson Plans

Areas of Significance

Types of Burial Places and Associated Features

Architectural Styles

Buildings, Structures, and Objects

Built Heritage Websites

Built Heritage Bibliography

Supplementary Resources Listings

Download Built Environment Overview in Word Document format.