Architecture for 4th Grade

I found this wonderful spooky house lesson on smArt blog and adapted it to our lesson on architecture. We briefly discussed Frank Lloyd Wright, some renaissance churches, local buildings, including the school, and asked the question if the design of the building made us want to enter? Did it tell a story? Could you get a feel of what was going to happen inside from the outside? What kind of emotion does this "art we walk through" convey?
It began with what fared to be the most challenging part of the lesson--measuring and the spatial challenge of folding the cut paper in the correct directions. ART IS EVERYWHERE...and it helped us learn these fundamental mathematical skills, Art Works!


The photos to the right show the mathematical part of the lesson--measuring and the spatial challenge of trying to figure out the proper folds to make the "step" pattern and cutting in an inch and half way up our folded paper gave us some needed practice in precision and measuring with a ruler.

It was time to add the architectural features. We mostly focused on the pitch of a roof and its purpose and the frame and pane of a window. Many of the students added landscape architectural features to complete the feel of their homes. Some were spooky, some from the desert, and some made just for dogs.