School's back in session and the the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) would like to remind you of an exciting learning tool, the Architecture Education Resource Guide. This free online resource was developed to assist teachers in integrating elements of architecture into their existing lesson plans. The guide can be accessed from the OAA Web site at www.oaa.on.ca <http://www.oaa.on.ca/> under the Services and Resources section.

The study of architecture and architectural design promotes many important learning skills such as creativity, problem solving and critical thinking and can easily be integrated into many elementary and secondary learning objectives through subjects such as the arts, math, history, social studies and even science.

The object of this guide is to infuse the process of design throughout the curriculum. The guide consists of various resources and suggested learning activities to help children understand the built environment in their community.

The guide has been divided into four categories, Kindergarten to Grade 3, Grades 4 - 6, Grades 7 - 8 and Grades 9 -12. Each category consists of a selection of subjects where architecture can be easily integrated to assist the child in achieving the objectives set out for their learning level. Each category also includes a suggested learning activity. A list of resources containing several web sites about architecture books, lesson plans, activities, games and architectural history, is provided to help your teachers fit architecture into their existing lesson plans.

To keep the learning process exciting, teachers are invited back to the site to see a monthly updated resource list and learning activities.

I encourage you to visit the site at www.oaa.on.ca <http://www.oaa.on.ca/> . If you have any questions about the resource guide or the Ontario Association of Architects, please contact Michelle Hamilton at 416-449-6898 ext. 276 or at michelleh@oaa.on.ca.

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