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 learners, this engaging design project is perfect for art and...
Curated OER
Intro to Building Bridges
Students participate in groups to complete the best bridge. For this bridge building lesson, students are assigned a role in building the bridge. Students will have to keep to their budgets. After the bridges are built, parents will be...
Curated OER
Native Design Coil Vase: Ceramics Lesson
After a quick study of Native American art, symbolism, and pattern design children make a ceramic vase. They read about the use, production, and design of Native American vases or pots, then use clay to create one of their own. Tip:...
Curated OER
Ships 3: Grand Designs And Great Failures
Middle schoolers engage in this, the third in a three-part series on ships. The overall instructional activity series is designed to allow students to extend their understanding of floating, sinking, density, and buoyancy and apply it to...
Curated OER
Building Boats
Students research different types of boats in various time periods and cultures. Then they locate photographs and information about construction details of one type of boat. Students also use their research as the basis for designing and...
Curated OER
Building a School Model: An Academic Challenge
First and second graders explore aspects of design. They discuss and design the ideal classroom building complete with window and door placement. Additionally, learners observe and note features found in neighboring classrooms as...
Curated OER
Tell Me About It: What is Design?
Students create and present an original design. In this visual arts lesson plan, students watch a video about design and learn the elements of design. Then students work in groups to construct and present an original design.
Curated OER
Our Designs For The World Trade Center Site
Students design specific structures appropriate for the World Trade Center site. For this architecture design lesson, students use the Internet to research the original structures at the World Trade Center site and use painting or...
American Institute of Architects
Architecture: It's Elementary!—First Grade
Build an interest and appreciation for architecture in your young learners with this fun 10-lesson art unit. Engaging children in using their five senses, the class first observes the environment around them, paying special attention to...
Curated OER
Building a Bridge
Third graders discover architecture and functionality by constructing a bridge. In this bridge engineering lesson plan, 3rd graders utilize cardboard, straws, towel tubes and plastic bottles to create a model bridge similar to ones seen...
Curated OER
Constructing a Building
Young scholars work with big boxes to connect big ideas. In this early childhood problem solving lesson, students develop social, language, math, creative-thinking, and problem-solving skills as they work together to plan and design a...
Curated OER
"If you build it..."
Students utilize prior knowledge to erect and assemble a building from a drawing using spaghetti noodles and marshmallows. In this building lesson, students visualize a three dimensional structure from looking at a picture and converting...
Curated OER
Fashion Recycles
Complete fashion design activities as a part of a study on protecting the environment. In this fashion and environment lesson, students discuss global environmental awareness and work in groups to list recyclable products that can be...
Curated OER
Toothpick Sculpture
You'll be surprized at how much engineering, design, and creativity can go into a toothpick and a marshmallow. Learners make toothpick sculptures where they construct three-dimentional models by sticking marshmallows and toothpicks...
Curated OER
String Cells
Use this resource to have your class learn about the cell. This resource walks learners through the construction of a model of a cell. This project is completed in a cooperative learning group, and reinforces the higher-order thinking...
Curated OER
Exploring the Design Process
Students analyze the design process and architecture of Ludwig van der Rohe. In this architecture and art analysis lesson, students explore the design process through photographic documentation and architectural plans. Students use...
Curated OER
Architectural Relief Tiles
Students 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...
Curated OER
The Kite
Historical facts and some diagrams about the structure of a kite are given in this PowerPoint. Interesting facts lead to the goal of individuals or groups designing and building their own kite. With this in mind, it might be useful to...
Curated OER
My Building, My Community
Pupils become familiar with the concepts of community and neighborhood and what buildings are associated with these. In this neighborhood lesson, students tour the neighborhood as a class, observing and taking photos of the local...
Curated OER
Building a Native American Home
First graders explore different types of Native American shelters. In this Native American homes lesson, 1st graders compare the shapes of shelters used by Native Americans. They build a home using the program "Community Construction...
Curated OER
Mini Meals
Learners discuss what makes a healthy and balanced meal, and then they make them out of clay. They use hand building techniques, radial design, and their knowledge of healthy foods to create unique mini-sized meals for a wall display.
Curated OER
Room Design Planning/From Paper to Virtual Reality and Back Again
Students participate in activities in which they explore how the space and objects around them can be altered. Using various types of software, they design and create a three-dimensional building and share it with the class. They also...
Curated OER
Bridges- Design a Bridge
In this bridge design worksheet, students answer 5 general questions about bridges. Students follow the directions to construct 4 types of bridges with paper and test them for strength.
Curated OER
Bonus Activity: Build a House
Students complete a building activity using their knowledge of geometrical shapes, tools, and how to follow a plan from previous lessons in this unit. In this following directions lesson, students study the basic building process as it...