Project Based Lesson Plans | Week 1 : Architecture & Architects

During this time of quarantine – homeschooling and being homebound – we’ve been lucky. My older two girls have a regular curriculum provided through their middle school. My 3rd grader has needed more guidance, but we’ve figured out some daily activities to help and her school has begun regular work recently. And, my husband and I are able to work from home. However, everyone’s favorite activity has been project based lesson plans that I create (nearly) each week. 

I started these projects the first week of full quarantine when school was still getting figured out and the girls needed some loose schedule and stimulation aside from play time and screen time. My girls thrive in a loose schedule – without some general structure, we all kind of fall apart. Plus, it allows me to have some work time and encourages the kids to have some creative independence.

I also wanted to stick with the theme of “expanding your worldview and curiosity” through these project based lesson plans. The first project turned out so well that I created several more projects as the weeks went on — I try to create one a week but sometimes I just throw something together mid-week. Today, I’m sharing the first of several that I will share. Some haven’t been quite as successful, but most have been a creative and educational break from the stress of quarantine.

My girls are in 8th, 6th and 3rd grades and they ALL enjoy (and learn something) from these projects.  They can easily be adapted for younger kids and older high school kids too. Even Brad and I enjoy doing them when we join in or they need help. 

Also, I have a feeling summer is going to mean much more time at home this year, so having these fun project based activities might be helpful throughout the summer too. 

Today I’m sharing the first of several project based lesson plans that my girls (and I) loved. You can spread the steps of these projects through several days or complete them all in one day.

Week 1: Architects & Architecture

This lesson was initially inspired by my youngest daughter’s issue of Bravery Magazine all about female architect Zaha Hadid.

The goal of this project was to learn about famous & local architects & architecture. Then, the girls shared some of the architects’ techniques and finally created their own room in a cardboard box based on their research.

Step One

Each kid was assigned one architect to research. The oldest wrote several paragraphs, the middle created a powerpoint (she’s kind of obsessed with powerpoints) while the youngest found/wrote 5 bullet points. The architects were:

• Zaha Hadid – June (age 8) got Zaha Hadid. We have the Bravery Magazine focused on her and it is one of our favorites. Bravery magazine was her primary source for research, but she also did a bunch of internet research and loved viewing the pictures of Zaha’s buildings.
• Frank Lloyd Wright – Grace (age 13) got Frank Lloyd Wright. Last fall we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Falling Waters, in Pennsylvania and we all fell in love with his style and techniques. Grace used primarily the internet as a source, but also a Falling Waters book we have.
• Ryan Thewes – Lila (age 11) got Ryan Thewes. Ryan is actually a friend of ours (and dad to one of Lila’s BFFs) here in Nashville. He is currently building his own family home near our local Greenway which has been fascinating to watch. Lila researched Ryan and his work online. If we had more time and forethought, I would have had her interview him.

Other architects we briefly considered: Jane Drew, Toshiko Mori, Antoni Gaudi.

Step Two

Each girl presented her architect to the group. They each had to highlight at least one technique or influence that was prominent for that architect.

Step Three

We got out an accumulation of cardboard boxes and art supplies including paper, scissors, glue, buttons, pipe cleaners, etc. Each girl decided on a room to create (i.e. a bedroom, a living room, or an imaginary dream room) and using their notes and imagination, they created the room. They each had to include at least one element in the room from EACH architect (so 3 total).

Step Four

They presented their rooms to the group and shared each element from each architect they included.

The girls loved this project and have created other rooms and added things to their rooms since we did the initial project. 

Let us know if you try this, tag us on any pictures and stay tuned for other project based lessons!

Some other quarantine family activities can be found here and this post from my friend Stephanie Becker is helpful too.