Architectural Design Teacher Resources

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....

Students 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.

Students explore architectural design.  In this critical thinking and architecture lesson plan, students view a number of websites providing proposals for design plans of a new World Trade Center.  Students choose and evaluate three...

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...

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 activity...

You can start off this sand castle art project by previewing the included architectural vocabulary. Learners explore images, the web, and books that show both sand castles and architectural design. They then get creative and make their...

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...

Any time kids engage in a design project, they are building problem-solving skills, collaborative learning skills, and creative thinking skills. Upper graders take a nature walk to observe and sketch organic shapes and lines that they...

Learners 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...

Middle schoolers design, then construct an architectural structural model of a two-person dwelling. Then, Students, in groups, plan a city layout.

Students participate in this continuation of the Design Your Space activity. Using their completed classroom floor plans, students discuss the pros and cons of each floor plan and select the plan which has the best use of space and...

Students use materials from their own environment to design a kite. For this kite design lesson, students research the history of kites and obtain a formal mathematical definition of a kite. Students sketch kite designs after discovering...

Learners analyze three different types of temporary shelters and their designs for environmental factors. In this shelter design activity, students analyze how designers address environmental problems for homeless or refugees. Learners...

Discover the functional works of art found in everyday life. Modern architecture is the focus of this highly visual presentation. Works from architectural masters such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, and Le Corbusier are featured. A...

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...

Students investigate the local history and architecture of their community. They draw maps, conduct Internet research, discuss varied architectural designs, take a walking tour of their town and work in teams to record their community's...

Pupils 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...

Students consider the two finalists in the contest for architectural designs for the site of the World Trade Center. They create their own designs for a meaningful public space, then critique each other's designs.

Third graders explore the structural composition of buildings and houses. In this math instructional activity, 3rd graders explain how architecture is related to mathematics. They create a blueprint of a structure with at least three...

Students study the architectural designs of different popular sites. For this math lesson, students draw a grid diagram. They explain what geodesic algorithms are used for.

Students experiment with the construction of shelters and the various types of architectural designs.  In this shelters lesson, students draw the building they live in.  Students compare and contrast buildings made today and made 150...

Fifth graders design a blueprint and floor plan for a one-story clubhouse.  In this architectural design lesson, 5th graders view several floor plans and blueprints on the Internet then design a one-story clubhouse that includes specific...

Students design specific structures appropriate for the World Trade Center site.  In this architecture design activity, students use the Internet to research the original structures at the World Trade Center site and use painting or...

Students study symbols on a French cabinet. In this architectural design lesson, students examine the symbolism of the door panel on the "Cabinet on Stand." Students create their own unique design based on a symbol from another country.