Streetwork: investigating streets and buildings in the local area

The streets and buildings in the immediate school vicinity are a potentially valuable teaching resource but are often overlooked. The differences between individual houses, the variety of architectural styles and the quality of the urban environment raise fascinating and far-reaching questions that relate to many areas of the curriculum. Children often appreciate local outdoor work because it values their surroundings and helps them to develop their sense of belonging. Furthermore, wherever your school may be, local streets and houses will be easy to access and can be studied on a regular basis. The opportunity to enrich the curriculum through ‘streetwork’ lies literally just across the doorstep. This chapter explores some of the possibilities and links them to deeper educational thinking learning, pupil motivation and environmental awareness.