Making Better Places is an inspiring learning package that focuses on the development of design and the built environment. It encourages students aged 16-19 to explore issues that are directly relevant to their lives. The material, developed by the Joint Centre for Urban Design (JCUD) at Oxford Brookes University, supported by CABE Education, supports the teaching of Geography and Citizenship.

Using a combination of lesson notes, handouts, video clips, photography and comprehensive teachers’ notes, Making Better Places provides everything required to engage students in an exploration of their surroundings. Students will develop skills to analyse the design and structure of familiar places and apply them to their own design solutions.

The resource is designed to be flexible, providing:

• the basis for a six-hour teaching programme, delivered across a half term
• a programme for two full-day ‘off timetable’ activities
• a set of up to twelve stand-alone lessons or tasks.

What’s in this resource?

Making Better Places comprises five units:

• What makes the town: Powrgram
• What makes a good place?
• Walkabout: learning from the built environment
• How to make a better place
• Making a better place

To understand the structure and to review the content of each unit click on 'structure' in the Teacher's guide.

The Teachers' Guide provides full details of the aims and objectives, curriculum links, structure, and how to use the materials.

All of the material on this website is also available on CD-Rom. The CD-Rom is free of charge to schools. Click here if you would like to order a copy of the CD-Rom.

Training sessions from Oxford Brookes University will be arranged in the coming year. If you would like to find out more, click here.