Education

The Society provides speakers for local history societies and extramural lectures, and has organised regular conferences and seminars on aspects of local architecture. From April 2000 for three years it has also appointed an education officer to develop materials for schools to use, drawing local buildings into the curricula for history, geography, art and other subjects. This has been made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The material which follows is currently employed by the Education Officer in schools, and more details are available from him.

The UAHS aims to develop appreciation of Ulster's built heritage from the earliest times to the present. The society's education programme contributes to the curriculum at Key Stage 2.

The study of Ulster's buildings contributes to:

• Art and Design by heightening sensory experiences
• English through written descriptions of buildings and places
• Geography by creating environmental awareness
• History by developing a sense of the past and its physical legacy
• Mathematics by the use of shapes and the relationship of shapes
• Religious Education by looking at the form and function of church buildings
• Science by studying the physical elements of buildings

We offer an illustrated introductory lesson about the development of Ulster architecture from the earliest times to the present. This is suitable for Key Stage 2 pupils and is available by contacting the Education Officer, who will be happy to visit your school.

Many of the parts of the curriculum can be addressed simply by looking carefully at the buildings in your area. A town trail is an ideal way of allowing pupils to study their built environment and to present their findings. Currently the UAHS runs two guided town trails:

The Cathedral area of Belfast: This trail is ideal for EMU groups as it covers St Patrick's Catholic Church and St Anne's Church of Ireland Cathedral. It encourages pupils to look at the streets in the area, observing their relationship to one another and the building materials used. Involves map-reading skills, numeracy, literacy and drawing.

Caledon, County Tyrone: Caledon is an excellent example of a Georgian village and is largely unspoilt. The trail enables pupils to look at buildings and discuss, question, draw and record what they see. Art and design, geography and history are incorporated into the trail. You can download the pages for this here.

If you would like to take part in either of these trails or have a trail made of the area around your school, then contact the UAHS EDUCATION OFFICER, telephone 028 9055 0213 or e-mail: info@uahs.co.uk

See also our glossary of local architectural terms, and information sheets on the Stone Age, Irish monasteries, and Georgian houses.