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Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja

Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

Architecture of Natural Materials


Architecture in the Classroom
Architecture, urban planning and design have effect on our natural, physical, social and
cultural environments. By making kids aware of the process that forms these environments,
they might be better equipped to make positive changes to their physical world as they grow
up. By participating in architectural activity, children get to know elements and principles of
design as well as materials, structures and cultures as well as principals of environmental
design. Since architecture is a broad subject, I have chosen to focus on environmental
education for this unit.
Architecture of Natural materials
This activity focuses on houses, and was first done in the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre. It
was based on the exhibit: animal architects at the centre, which looked at animal habitats.
There are three parts to the activity, the first two serves as introductions to the third, which is
the hands on. The first part explores animal habitats and animal use natural materials; the
second: looks at how people from around the world do the same with their houses, and in the
third students are asked to build models of houses from natural materials.
Structure and age: This document is a collection of activities; it is here for you to play. You
may do the whole thing, choose part of an activity, modify or add. The activities are not age
specified in most cases, and it is up to the teacher to decide. However, the range of activities
can be done with students from pre-school to higher grades.
Acquired Skills: creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, cross-disciplinary applications and
cooperative learning.
Vocabulary used: natural materials, form, colour, structure, support, beams, columns, shape,
scale, thermal comfort.
Sources: The pictures and information were taken from various sources (see bibliography).
Most activities are my ideas.

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

First part: animal habitat


This part was based on animal habitat exhibit at the Coulee Centre, which explored how
animals used natural materials to build their homes. Originally the students were supposed to
be given a tour of the exhibit by a local guide, however, since the day turned out to be
gorgeous, we have decided to change the plan and went out to watch habitats around the
natural reserve which was very successful. We have seen the home of a deer, woodpecker
and a rabbit, also beavers lodge and spiders web.
Objective: Learning about some building techniques and materials used in animal habitats.
Materials: natural reserve, park or any area where animal habitat can be observed.
Vocabulary: Animal habitats: nest, den, burrow, etc. Natural materials: straw, mud, wood etc.,
shelter, protection from weather.
Procedure:
Introduction:
Discussion on:
-

What animal habitats do we know?

Why do animals need a house? (To protect from potential enemies, and as shelter from
the weather).

Think of animal habitats that you know, which material are they made of?

Activity:
* Have the students look at examples of animal habitats: either bring pictures or more
recommended, take the students on a nature tour and see what you can find. You may
wish to get help from a local nature guide (e.g., coulee centre, etc.). For more information
on animal habitat, see bibliography.
* For every example you have, ask the students:
1. Which materials were used to build each example?
2. How do animals obtain protection from potential enemies and shelter from the weather
Closure:
List materials that are used by animals (mud, straw, stone, wood). Indicate that same as
animals use natural material to build their homes, so do people around the world. This will be
the subject of the second part.

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

Second part: houses from around the world


In this part, students will be looking at examples of houses from around the world, and will try
to identify materials, and methods that are used in different cultures. Pictures of houses from
around the world are included and can be in a separate document called: Architecture
Lesson PlanPictures. The teacher can use those pictures, add to it, or use their own
examples and pictures.
Objective: Getting to know houses from around the world, and how climate, availability of
materials and culture effects them.
Materials: Variety of pictures of houses from around the world
Procedure:
Introduction
Discussion on:
-

What is a house?

Why do we build houses? To protect from potential enemies, and as shelter from the
weather; the human body is comfortable only in relatively narrow range of thermal
conditions, and people are looking to maintain their thermal comfort (to stay warm when
the temperatures are low, and cool when it is hot). In the modern world people use heating
and cooling facilities which are operated with electricity, oil, gas etc. However, a large
population around the world does not have access to such facilities, and yet, they make
sure to maintain thermal comfort in their houses. How do they do that? The best way of
answering the question is looking at examples. My second document lesson planpictures contains pictures of houses from around the world, with explanations and
suggestions for activities.

Which materials can be used to build a house? People in the modern world have a variety
of materials to choose from when they build, and they sometimes ship building materials
such as stone, wood, and earth from far away. On the other hand, there are many other
people who do not import (usually because they cant afford to), and instead, use whatever
they have available locally.

Activity:

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

Guessing game:
-

In small groups: The students are shown different pictures of houses from around the
world:

You may want to look at the document Architecture Lesson Plan- Pictures now.
The pictures can be shown to the students in any of the following formats:

Slide show.

Print the pictures and pass it between the groups.

Make a cards game, where the picture are on one side, and the answers on the
other.

The students have to guess:


1. What is in the picture
2. Where is it from in the world
3. Which materials are used
4. Why was it built this way
5. How do the dwellers maintain thermal comfort

* After they guessed, you can have a discussion in the class, and fill-in the information.
Closure:
After the students have seen all the pictures, go over the different materials and techniques
that were introduced in class. This is done so when they build their own models at the third
part, they will have an idea of the options they have.
*If you do the third part on a separate day, you may wish to remind the students of the
different animal habitats and examples of houses they have seen just before they start
building their models.

Third part: building a model


In this part, the students have a chance to develop the newly gained information into hand-on
activities.

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

Objective: Having the students build models of houses from natural materials
Materials:
- Natural materials that can be found outside - mud, clay, straw, weeds, pieces of wood, small
stones etc.
- Bases for the models (cardboard or any flat surface, approximately 30X30 cm)
Procedure:
Activity:
1. Collecting materials with the students can be done in a park, nature area (you might
need to ask permission), or anywhere in the neighbourhood that you think is
appropriate. * It is better to go with the students, because you can better direct them
on what to bring, give them ideas, and also make sure that they will only pick things
from the ground, and will not harm nature in any way.
2. Giving the students figures to build the models for (so it will be: a house for a bear,
mouse, poke man etc.). This could be a miniature of an animal, person etc. Those
figures help students develop a sense of scale.
* If you have the time, you can make students build their own figures from clay, Fimo, make
cotton dolls, etc.
3. Have the students build a house for the figure, using only the materials they brought
from outside (they may add water to their mud). You can choose a geographic location
(desert, arctic, forest etc.), and encourage the students to provide the house dwellers
with sufficient thermal comfort (by making sure to use insulating materials, wind
chimney, fireplace etc.)
4. When done, you can arrange an exhibit of the models, including brief written
explanation on what they have done and why.
Additional suggestions:
1. This could be a parents-students activity, another option, Invite parent to see the
exhibit.
2. Alternative location: The activity can take place in nature (for example: I know of a
teacher who made her students build fairy houses in the forest).
There is so much more that can be done with architecture. Architecture can be integrated into
social studies: building models of famous houses, castles etc. (build a model of the Bastille,

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

build a model of a pyramid, etc.). It can be integrated into sciences: when learning about
forces (students can build bridges), calculating angels, surfaces. You may want to have a look
at the web sites given at the end for more ideas.
Here are other suggestions for activities:
- Design the house of your dreams
- Build a model of your neighbourhood and re-design parts that you do not like (group work) Design a house in a remote location using local materials; supply your own water and
electricity. (For higher grades)
- Re design your room
- For Harry Potter lovers: build a model of Howgarth

Etc, etc, etc.

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

Bibliography (sorted by relevance)


Books
Architecture without architects/ (Available at the Lethbridge Public Library)
Shelter/ Shelter Publications/ California /1973
The Natural House Book / David Pearson / Gaia publications (Available at the Lethbridge
Public Library)
Architecture for Kids / Carole Arnston / Architectural Institute of British Columbia, 1997
Native American Architecture / Peter Nabokov & Robert Easton / Oxford University press,
1988. (Available at the Lethbridge Public Library)
Man. Climate and architecture/ B. Givoni / Elsevier publishing / UK / 1969.

Books on animal habitat:


Animal architects / The Helen Schuler Coulee Centre / Research Package / 1999.
Books for world explorer series: Animal architects/ National geographic society / Washington
D.c. / 1987.
The architecture of animals / Forsyth Adrian / Camden House Publishing / Ontario / 1989.

Relevant Websites (sorted alphabetically)


ARC Home Page: http://www.norfolkcounty.com/aerc/
ARC Links: http://www.norfolkcounty.com/aerc/links.html
Architecture for Kids at Loggia | exploring great architecture sites for kids and educators!:
http://www.loggia.com/designarts/kids.html
Architecture in Education Topics: http://www.whyy.org/cgi-bin/netforum/aie/a/1 Art and
ecology: http://www.artsednet.getty.edu/ArtsEdNet/Resources/Ecology/index.html
Catalogue for books on architecture for kids: http://www.norfolkcounty.com/aerc/catalog.html
E2: Environment & Education: http://www.enviroaction.org/curricula/index.html

Architecture Unit Plan Nava Beja


Grade: unspecified

Revised by: Deanna Plested

The Galileo Educational Network Association: Working with and in schools:


http://www.galileo.org/school.html GEOEC: http://www.geoec.org/index.html
Lesson Plans Sorted by Grade Level:
http://www.artsednet.getty.edu/ArtsEdNet/Resources/grade.html
Primitive Cultures:
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/covent/14/anthro02/housing.htm
RealGoods: http://www.realgoods.com/
Shelter in Architecture In Education Web Resources- Architectural Lesson Plans:
http://www.whyy.org/aie/new-stuff/resources/archlesson.html
Straw bale information: http://www.balewatch.com
Strew Bale Houses: http://www.balewatch.com/

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