Lesson: Architecture buildings

In a lesson combining art with math and geometry, fifth-graders examined works by famous architects, such as I.M. Pei or Frank Lloyd Wright. Then, they were presented with an architectural "challenge": to create a public-use building on a specific plot of land, taking time to consider the parts and purposes of their creations. Using small dowel rods and gumdrops, the students spent time constructing their works and annotating their designs with sticky labels.

Materials: gumdrops, dowel rods or toothpicks, construction paper cut as pretend plots of land, pencils.

Basic Instructions:
You are the architect for a new building in your community!

1. Consider your plot of land. How will your building fit?

2. Construct a three-sided pyramid with four gumdrops and six dowel rods.

3. Construct another pyramid and attach it to your first pyramid.

4. Start to build by making and joining more geometric shapes.

5. PAUSE and think about your building plan:

Will it be symmetrical?

How will you make it balance?

What are the parts and purposes of your construction?