Curated OER
Math: Designing a Playground
Sixth graders design and draw a model playground to scale. They configure the layout to include a sandbox, slide, baseball field and other equipment. Their design includes adaptations for students with disabilities. Their designs are...
Curated OER
Turn It Upside Down: Introduction to Computer-Aided Design
Students explore a computer-aided design program. Students chart out roller coaster design, computer graphics and architecture. Students focus on understanding the connections between mathematics, science, technology and innovation.
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Architectural Rendering
Explore different methods of architectural rendering and technical drawing. Pupils learn about cross hatching, parallel line rendering, random line rendering, rubbing, shading, and stippling in the second lesson of the series of 11....
Curated OER
Fun-Factory - NOT!
Middle schoolers design a solution to a problem based on the Industrial Revolution. In this design lesson plan, students come up with architectural designs and present them to teachers in a simulated factory.
Curated OER
Lights, Sounds, Fabrics and Designs: Careers in the World of Design
High schoolers investigate the broad range of jobs that can be found in the world of design. Students explore sound design, language architecture, etc. High schoolers design a resource book and post it on a website for others to share.
Curated OER
Architectural Letters
Have your class construct their own architectural letter. This art project focuses on architecture, or the art of building. You can connect this activity to a biography activity. Your class can decorate their initial to reflect their...
Curated OER
World Trade Center Design Proposals
Young scholars explore architectural design. In this critical thinking and architecture lesson, students view a number of websites providing proposals for design plans of a new World Trade Center. Young scholars choose and evaluate...
Curated OER
Architectural Relief Tiles
Learners observe the design of buildings, either first-hand within their communities or with photographs. The design relief tiles representing buildings studied and use the vocabulary of design elements and construction materials used in...
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Byzantine Architecture
View Byzantine architecture from the comfort of your classroom. A PowerPoint presentation introduces important vocabulary terms and examples of Byzantine architecture in the ninth lesson of the 11-part series. A Jeopardy game reviews...
Dick Blick
ArtStraw Architecture
While architects and engineers don't often build with plastic straws and foam board, the same principles still apply. Challenging both the creativity and critical thinking of students, this engaging design project is perfect for art and...
Skyscraper Museum
Designing a Skyscraper
Besides serving as awe-inspiring monuments of human achievement, skyscrapers are built to perform a wide range of functions in urban communities. The second lesson in this series begins by exploring the history of the Empire State...
NASA
Building for Hurricanes: Engineering Design Challenge
"By the hair on your chinny-chin-chin, I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," says the big, bad wolf! Engineering hopefuls are challenged to design and construct a hurricane-proof building from simple office and craft...
Science NetLinks
Green Roof Design
Green roofs aren't just eco-friendly — they are literally green with trees. Groups learn about the concept of green roofs in order to be able to design one. The groups design a 5,000-square-foot green roof for a fictional apartment row...
Curated OER
Lesson: New Museum Design Activity
After viewing images of vernacular and alternative architecture, budding designers collect materials to construct their own spacial design. They use gathered materials to construct a 3D model of the class space in a new way, yet...
Curated OER
Dream Building: Frank Lloyd Wright 1867 – 1959
As a part of an architecture unit, 10th graders research and draw a building's exterior. They view images of buildings Frank Lloyd Wright has designed, attend lecture, conduct research on architectural design, and then draw an exterior...
Curated OER
Artists, Architects, and Architecture
The study of art and architecture are the focus of this series of lessons. The images of Robert Harris are used in the lessons as examples for youngsters to looks at. A study of architecture in different time periods ensues, then...
Curated OER
Math and Architectural Design in Relation to Rebuilding The World Trade Center
Students discover building plans and practice reading measurements. In this architectural design lesson, students investigate the areas of the specific World Trade Center locations that need to be rebuilt and determine the cost....
Curated OER
Design Your Own Building
Students explore the use of design principles in the real world. They evaluate how problems can be solved using design principles. In groups, students design the floor plan for a building of their choice.
Curated OER
Lesson New Museum: Exploring the Building
Explore the possibilities of buildings, public spaces, and architectural design. Learners examine the work of SANAA architects Sejima & Nishizawa through background information, images, and guided class discussion. This lesson...
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Geometry in Architecture #1
Discover how to analyze architecture from a geometric standpoint. The fourth installment of an 11-part unit on architecture first provides a presentation on axis, balance, basic form, formal, pattern, proportion, symmetry, and tripartite...
Skyscraper Museum
What is a Skyscraper?
Skyscrapers are amazing feats of architectural design that create the iconic skylines of the world's biggest cities. Young architects explore the defining characteristics of these monstrous towers with the first lesson in this four-part...
Curated OER
Imaginary Spaces: Designing a Play Space
Students apply their enthusiasm for imaginary play to create their own imaginary play space. In this novice architectural design lesson, students arrange and glue pre-cut foam shapes to a cardboard base to set up their play space. In...
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Roman Architecture
Design an office fit for the gods. Individuals view a PowerPoint presentation on Roman architecture, its key elements, and famous structures. In groups, they design an office building incorporating the elements of Roman architecture.
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Design and Draw a Mixed-Media Structure
Mix up your lessons with a resource on mixed-media structures. Scholars design a structure out of paper, balloons, and string that will lift a pencil to the greatest height; they construct the structure at a later time.