1. Teacher Guide
This lesson is designed to teach kids to ask a critical thinking question that you can’t just put into a search box to solve. To do that, we encourage them with smaller questions that search can help them answer. Make sure that you read the notes for each slide: they not only give you teaching tips but also provide answers and hints so you can help the kids if they are having trouble.
Remember, you can always send feedback to the Bing in the Classroom team at You can learn more about the program at bing.com/classroom and follow the daily lessons on our Partners In Learning site.
Want to extend today’s lesson? Consider using Skype in the Classroom to arrange for your class to chat with another class in today’s location. And if you are using Windows 8, you can also use the Bing apps to learn more about this location and topic; the Travel and News apps in particular make great teaching tools.
Alice Keeler is a mother of 5 and a teacher in Fresno, California. She has her B.A in Mathematics, M.S. in Educational Media Design and Technology and is currently working on a doctorate in Educational Technology with an emphasis in games and simulations. EdTech speaker, blogger, and presenter. Founder of coffeeEDU, a 1 hour conference event for educators. New Media Consortium Horizon report advisory panel member. High school math teacher for 14 years. Currently teaching pre-service teachers curriculum, instruction and technology at California State University Fresno. Teaches online for Fresno Pacific University in the Masters in Educational Technology. Passionate that kids are not failures, researches gamification in education to increase student motivation.
This lesson is designed to teach the Common Core State Standard: English Language Arts
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including analyzing how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term over the course of a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

2. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?
© Domingo Leiva/Getty Images
Having this up as kids come in is a great settle down activity. You can start class by asking them for thoughts about the picture or about ideas on how they could solve the question of the day.

3. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?
It seems just about every sizeable city in Europe enjoyed a heyday as an economic powerhouse at some point in its history. Bruges’ time was the 12th through 15th centuries, when its coastal location and canal system made it one of the most important commercial centers of Europe.
Today, Bruges is one of Belgium’s biggest tourist destinations. The Renaissance-era architecture and canal system are still intact, adding much to the appeal for travelers interested in a slice of life from centuries past.
Depending on time, you can either have students read this silently to themselves, have one of them read out loud, or read it out loud yourself.

4. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?1
Image Search
Use Bing Images to locate several examples of Renaissance Architecture. What are some common characteristics? 2
Video Search
Locate a video tour of Bruges demonstrating Renaissance Architecture. 3
Web Search
Describe the aesthetics and function of arches in Renaissance-era architecture. 4
Describe the aesthetics and function of columns in Renaissance-era architecture. 5
What are two elements of Renaissance Architecture that are, in modern times, functionally obsolete?
There are a couple of ways to use this slide, depending on how much technology you have in your classroom. You can have students find answers on their own, divide them into teams to have them do all the questions competitively, or have each team find the answer to a different question and then come back together. If you’re doing teams, it is often wise to assign them roles (one person typing, one person who is in charge of sharing back the answer, etc.)

5. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?5
Minutes
You can adjust this based on how much time you want to give kids. If a group isn’t able to answer in 5 minutes, you can give them the opportunity to update at the end of class or extend time.

6. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?1
Image Search
Use Bing Images to locate several examples of Renaissance Architecture. What are some common characteristics? 2
Video Search
Locate a video tour of Bruges demonstrating Renaissance Architecture. 3
Web Search
Describe the aesthetics and function of arches in Renaissance-era architecture. 4
Describe the aesthetics and function of columns in Renaissance-era architecture. 5
What are two elements of Renaissance Architecture that are, in modern times, functionally obsolete?
You can ask the students verbally or let one of them come up and insert the answer or show how they got it. This way, you also have a record that you can keep as a class and share with parents, others.

7. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?1
Image Search
Use Bing Images to locate several examples of Renaissance Architecture. What are some common characteristics?
(Possible search queries: “Renaissance Architecture,” Renaissance style architecture examples”)
Sources:
Bing image search:
Possible answers may vary but students should identify characteristics such as arches, rounded towers, spires, elaborate facades and ornate decorative work, columns, flying buttresses and an emphasis on height as if pointing towards the sky.

8. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?2
Video Search
Locate a video tour of Bruges demonstrating Renaissance Architecture.
(Possible search queries: “Bruges Renaissance Architecture,” “Bruges Renaissance style architecture tour”)
Sources:
Bing video search:
Possible answers may vary but students should recognize and identify some of the characteristics from question 1 such as arches, rounded towers, spires, elaborate facades and ornate decorative work, columns, flying buttresses and an emphasis on height as if pointing towards the sky.

9. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?3
Web Search
Describe the aesthetics and function of arches in Renaissance-era architecture.
(Possible search queries: “Arches,” “Function of Arches in architecture”)
Sources:
Wikipedia:
Possible answers may vary but students should recognize that arches are very strong spans and bear considerable loads. This allowed for builders to erect tall stone buildings with arched windows. This helped achieve the emphasis on verticality and height. Also, the rounded nature of some arches provided a balanced, symmetrical aesthetic.

10. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?4
Web Search
Describe the aesthetics and function of columns in Renaissance-era architecture.
(Possible search queries: “Columns,” “Function of Columns in architecture,” “Renaissance Columns”)
Sources:
* Wikipedia:
Possible answers may vary but students should recognize that columns are functionally used for supports and can bear considerable weight. They are often used in combination with arches. They served an aesthetic component consistent with broader Renaissance characteristics that emphasized an emphasis on classical Greco-Roman motifs. Columns could be plain or highly decorative and some could be only decorative in that they are simply carved into the facade of a stone building.

11. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?5
Web Search
What are two elements of Renaissance Architecture that are, in modern times, functionally obsolete?
(Possible search queries: “Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture,” “Function of Arches in architecture,” “Cathedral Architecture”)
Sources:
Wikipedia:
Possible answers may vary but may include: Flying Buttresses, Decorative Columns, building materials such as stone etc.

12. What are key characteristics of Renaissance-era architecture, and what function did they serve?
This slide is a chance to summarize the information from the previous slides to build your final answer to the question.