Architecture Lesson Plans

Sixth graders create journal entries from the point of view of Roman identities during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. They discuss the legacies of Roman art and architecture, technology, science, literature, language and law. They investigate how earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods change human and wildlife habitats.

Students explore architecture through a historical perspective. They discuss the characteristics of various architectural styles. In groups, students explore prehistoric dwellings, pyramids, ziggurats, castles and cathedrals. They create their own dwelling based on given instructions.

Students watch a video and continue with research of Ancient Rome and the quest for knowledge. They form expert groups to study one aspect of life in Ancient Rome and share with the rest of the class.

Eighth graders explore civilizations of the world. In this architecture lesson plan, 8th graders investigate multimedia sources in order to examine famous structures of the world. Links are provided to Library of Congress primary sources as well as other files and documents.

Students develop an appreciation and understanding of the people, their attitudes, values and beliefs as reflected in their architecture. They use slides and or a walking tour showing the various styles of architecture, in New Haven, during the Victorian Age.

Students examine how architecture reflects historical time periods. They conduct research on the History Detectives website, complete a fact sheet, sequence photographs of different architectural styles, and create an illustration of a house.

Compare ancient and modern architecture by asking your historians to view photographs or slides of Roman and Greek architecture. They will complete a 3 circle Venn diagram labeled "Ancient Greece," "Rome," and "Modern Day United States," then write reflections about how the diagram illustrates how the United States architecture is modeled after great civilizations with similar ideals. This would be a wonderful activity to pair with a field trip!

Students learn about Frank Lloyd Wright's philosophy of architecture and will relate this philosophy to a discussion of the role of democracy in art and architecture. Students will discuss the types of architecture and new construction in their community.

Students examine the basic concepts of Greek and Roman architecture. They identify, in Latin, line drawings of the architectural features mentioned by Augustus and locate them on a map of Rome.

Eighth graders design and build a gingerbread house. In this technology lesson, 8th graders research the important components of a house. They evaluate the strength of their design and suggest modifications when necessary.