weekly
Mapping the World With Architecture
Completed by 68 learners
Ages 9-12
Live Group Class
Live video meetings
1x per week
3-9 learners per class
55 min
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 6
The variety of architecture found around the world is astounding, with most of it designed not by architects, but by regular people who had a deep understanding of their environment. Vernacular architecture is based on local needs, available building materials and traditional customs, but it can also be beautiful, ingenious, and sustainable for the future. Vernacular architecture, some of which is still in practice today, and certainly provides inspiring lessons for architecture students, is intricately linked to its landscape, climate and geology. As architects today make efforts to reduce their buildings’ ecological footprint and design for climate change, knowledge of these time-tested, clever design strategies is imperative. In this class, we will learn about places using maps, photos and google earth to help us analyze the geography. Then we will make our own maps to document our new knowledge of the place. A base map will be provided to print before class. Students will be guided to draw, color and label the map, step by step, while watching the teacher draw. Basics of cartography and geography are introduced non-linearly throughout the course. After making a map, we will look at the typical architecture and settlement patterns of the region or country, and discuss how the designs, materials, construction, forms, details, structure and more relate to what we know about the geography of the place. Often a country has a variety of architecture and settlement patterns, so we will zoom into one or two prime examples and spend the last ten minutes of class sketching and labeling an architecture drawing. The class is designed for students to practice looking at a place from different perspectives and scales in order to develop spatial perception. The map-making and sketching activities are presented as a fun challenge. Students will be gently encouraged to show their work to the class, but they are not required to. My teaching style is extremely encouraging, especially towards the efforts the students make. The class will include places from cold, hot-dry, hot-humid, and temperate climates. We cover a variety of geographic regions, conditions and features for broad learning opportunities. The class runs for 11 weeks, then repeats. Students may enroll and unenroll at any time; they do not need to start at the beginning, as each class stands alone. Please see the class schedule below. Week of: Nov 13 Scandinavia/Norway Nov 20 Italy Nov 27 Tuvalu & other Pacific Islands Dec 4 Mali Dec 11 Southwest USA Dec 18 Japan Jan 8 India Jan 15 Brazil Jan 22 China Jan 29 Arabia Feb 5 Egypt
Learning Goals
Students will be able to identify the country we study on a world map as well as its land and water borders.
Students will learn the distinctive geography and climate of the country.
Students will create a map of geographical features on a provided base map.
Students will learn how the unique architecture of the region is related to its environment, climate, natural resources and culture.
Students will sketch and label a building typical of the region or country.
Students will learn the meaning of vocabulary words related to architecture and geography.
Other Details
Supply List
Colored pencils and handout map Please print the weekly handout map posted in the classroom before class begins.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
She/her
**Now offering customized workshops for in-person groups, scouts, and homeschool groups!** Contact me for more info.
Hello Outschoolers!
My name is Heather Korb and I've been teaching Architecture, Urban Planning and Map-making on Outschool for over 4 years!
I am a licensed architect in New York, I hold a Bachelor of Architecture from New York Institute of Technology, and a Master of Urban Planning from City College of New York. I have been working in the architecture field for over 15 years, and I co-founded an international architecture collective called Akasa Collective to develop ideas about collaborative architecture, conceptual housing designs and map-making with kids. I have taught architecture courses at the university level as well as many classes in our homeschool community over the years.
I offer Outschool classes related to architecture, map-making and urban planning to introduce kids to the exciting world of designing buildings, transforming cities, and building community.
My lecture/discussion classes introduce kids to new design concepts and ideas, and include a broad geographical spectrum and equal representation of architects. Critical thinking, problem solving and spacial perception are important skills that designers must develop, but I also emphasize compassion and respect for all people and care for the environment. Every person-kids too!- can have an impact in their community or even the world, often through good design.
In my classes, I give kids a safe space to express themselves. In many of my classes we will be making things: creating our own maps, technical & artistic drawings, and paper models. I strive to make each kid feel comfortable and empowered to share their work. I always remind kids that everyone's design will be different and there is no wrong way, in fact, so many right ways! I aim for the class to be an enjoyable challenge for each individual learner.
I homeschool my two sons, ages 14 and 10, and we love to travel near and far, using the world as our classroom. You may find us hiking, sketching and making maps, often with friends in the forests, wetlands and beaches of Long Island- our home, or wandering around New York City, our second home.
=]
Fun fact: I designed and built (with my husband and kids) our own tiny house on wheels!
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