2.3 I Spy Building Parts

Background for the Educator: Now that your students have a basic understanding of the parts of a building and the materials that make them up, it’s time to hit the streets! What’s most important in this activity is to get students to really look at their surroundings. As they walk around the block (or wherever you decide), they may even notice patterns in buildings and their materials (often similar styles will be next to each other)--they were probably built at the same time by the same builder! Hopefully, students will see a lot of wood, stone, brick--which were (and still are) very common building materials! See if students can begin to sort out what buildings might be historic, based on its exterior materials. Most Burlington neighborhoods have historic buildings, so you’re sure to come across more than a few on your walk! This is a great way to have kids make connections and practice observing (and discussing) what they see in the built environment.