Architecture in the Classroom

Are you a teacher looking to engage middle schoolers in this project? Here are some resources for ideas and inspiration:

AIA K-12 Pathway Initiative
https://www.aia.org/resource-center/aia-k-12-pathway-initiatives

Learn Deep
https://learndeep.org/

School Zone Institute
https://www.schoolzoneinstitute.com/

Architecture by the Book
https://calarchfoundation.org/archbythebook_lessons/

Inform Design Magazine Article - describes a book that offers STEM lessons https://inform-magazine.com/new-book-offers-real-world-interdisciplinary-stem-lessons/ 

Architecture & Education, Buffalo Architecture Foundation
https://buffaloarchitecture.org/programs/architecture-education/

LAUSD Heroes for Zero Contest
https://www.lausd.org/Page/19869

Architects in Schools, Architecture Foundation Oregon
https://www.af-oregon.org/architects-in-schools/


Below is a sample Middle School Level Design Curriculum with 6 lessons:

●  Preview: Get excited with the Animal Dice Game and/or Climate Action Design Challenge (needs building materials).

●  Lesson 1(~45-60 minutes): If possible, ask a local architect to present this “What is Architecture?” slideshow. Introduce the relevant vocabulary and scope of this specific project. Ask students to brainstorm individually, then with partners, then share with class ideas on how to make their school ideal for:

1.  Students,
2.  Teachers,
3.  Community

Each student could focus on all groups or students could be split with 3 groups, each focusing on a different group then joining together to find solutions that match all three.

●  Lesson 2: Introduce specifics of a project, sharing guidelines. Go to Step 2 on the Building Certificate Program https://www.aia.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/the-house-that-she-built-architect-certificate-program.pdf

○  Sketch out specific space assigned (whether classroom or whole school), depending on the final project decision by the teacher.

●  Lessons 3-5: Use building materials (e.g., online graphing paper, design software, LEGO, recycling supplies, popsicle sticks, etc.) to morph drawing into 3-D.

●  Lesson 6: Students present finished projects to the class using appropriate vocabulary and explaining the decisions they made, challenges they faced, and what they would do differently next time.

Extension Activities:

●  Box School: Have each student or group of students build a different space with specific size requirements, then connect into a full building.

●  Judges/Ceremony: Invite local architects to judge the finished design, then hold an assembly and present awards for specific categories.

●  Design Fair: Invite families and community members to walk through the designs while students present their creations.

Alignment with mathematical practices for 7th grade standards in California:

  1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

  2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

  3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

  4. Model with mathematics.

  5. Use appropriate tools strategically.

  6.  Attend to precision.

  7. Look for and make use of structure.

  8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Alignment with English Language Arts specific 7th grade standards in California (Presentation of Knowledge & Ideas):

  1. Present claims and findings (e.g., argument, narrative, summary presentations), emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

  2. Plan and present an argument that: supports a claim, acknowledges counterarguments, organizes evidence logically, uses words and phrases to create cohesion, and provides a concluding statement that supports the argument presented.