This course will explore the mutual influences of ideas of nature, theories of city design and planning, and practices of urban design, construction, and management. We will investigate how natural processes shape urban landscapes (from the scale of street corner to region) and how to intervene strategically in those processes in order to achieve certain goals. We will examine cases of cities that adapted successfully to natural processes and those that did not. Students will then have the opportunity to research a case of their choice and to present their findings for discussion. The subject may be historical or an an example of contemporary theory and practice. Additional information is also available at Professor Spirn's class website.

Natural disasters require communities to work together. Students will: come up with a definition of community and discuss the different the communities they are a part of; talk about a time they have helped someone in their community and why; watch a video clip of a group of young boys helping their community in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami; discuss what it feels like to help people and how it feels to receive help; discuss a time the students worked together to achieve a goal; come up with ideas of how to help people who are affected by natural disasters.

The lesson plan is useful for building community in an Adult ESOL class for intermediate and advanced level students. The plan contains icebreakers and a review of adjectives that describe character.

Community Building is one of a series of units created to teach the Iowa Teaching Standards using Jim Knight's High Impact Instruction.   

Community Building is an interactive synchronous training for teachers. It explains the importance of a classroom community and the positive effect it has on student learning. It provides many examples and opportunities for teachers to think about their class communities and how to strengthen them.

Students think about how to create a kind, caring classroom using an interactive poem and a drawing activity.

At the beginning of each term, in junior- and senior-level courses, I have my students get to know each other.

Thank you for visiting our Tennessee Board of Regents OER Grant English 1020: Introduction to Literature course. The pilot launched in spring 2023. This Walters State Community College composition course focuses on reading and analyzing poetry, drama, and short stories. The course has been designed with Quality Matters standards, Universal Design for Learning concepts, Growth Mindset fundamentals, and Lumen Circles concepts.     

Students build classroom community as they get to know each other and their teacher better by sharing what they like to do outside school.

This is a unit of instruction I created for an intermediate integrated skills course. It has a lot of activities targeted at creating community and getting students on track as effective language learners.

Bullying is a widespread problem among our schools and communities that can lead to increased fighting and violent futures for both the victims and bullies themselves. How can youth change these statistics and contribute to a positive school environment?

This activity aims to help your class get the school year off to a good start. Students share their names and a high point of their summer; learn a little about their similarities and differences; and begin considering what kind of community they want to create in their classroom.

Circles use a highly structured process to create a safe space where people can share their feelings and experiences. Since 2011, Morningside Center has partnered with the NYC Department of Education to introduce Peace and Restorative Circles into schools around New York City. Here, Morningside Center trainer Marieke van Woerkom outlines the basic elements of Circles.

An introductory Circle invites participants to consider values that are important to them and the group.