Architecture: less is more or ‘less is bore’?

Megan | Feb 21, 2025Mar 04, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• learn and practise vocabulary for discussing architecture;
• discuss architecture from various perspectives;
• watch a video on the debate of modern architecture.

With this lesson, students explore architecture-related words (e.g. capture, sleek, complement). They discuss opinions on architecture and public buildings, read dialogues about modern architecture and share their thoughts on notable buildings. Students also watch a video on modern architecture, talk about viewpoints on urban design and read a short text about ‘architectural myopia’. 

WARM-UP AND VOCABULARY

This lesson begins with a warm-up where students start exploring vocabulary for discussing architecture. They think of words connected to architecture. After that, students discuss opinions on architecture and public buildings. Then, they read dialogues about modern architecture and do tasks. Students match adjectives (e.g. austere, stark,  sleek) with their definitions. They also use parts of phrases (e.g. capture the essence) and their own ideas to complete sentences with different endings. Afterwards, students describe pictures using target vocabulary (e.g. favour, sleek, stark). Following that, they choose some statements to express personal opinions on notable buildings. 

VIDEO AND DISCUSSION

In this part of the lesson, students can practise vocabulary for discussing architecture more. They watch a video on the debate of modern architecture. Students take notes on some points (the Parisian cityscape, brutalist architecture and post-modern architecture). Following that, they discuss perspectives on architecture and urban design. Students then read a short text about ‘architectural myopia’ (a lack of foresight in architecture, ignoring the environment, usability, and future adaptation). Afterwards, they discuss the impact of architectural myopia.  

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students find words that don’t belong in a text and correct them. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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