When studying cultures, one can explore the values within a culture by studying how the culture uses the physical environment. Many folk cultures have developed their customs and traditions due to the environment around them. How a group of people use the physical environment for food and shelter allows one to understand how the physcial environment has impacted the culture.
Look at the various housing types in the United States. What do they have in common? How have each of the housing styles been impacted by the physical environment?