2nd Grade Art: Architecture

Lessons taken from What Your Second Grader Needs to Know and the Core Knowledge Teacher Handbook
The Big Idea: Architecture is the art of designing buildings
Architecture Domain Vocabulary
Arch: A curved or pointed span over a doorway or window
Architecture: The art of designing buildings
Column: An upright (vertical) post
Façade: The front (or “face”) of a building
Line of Symmetry: An imaginary line running down the middle of a symmetrical image
Pediment: A triangular space that forms the gable of a pitched roof
Stupa: A dome-like mound built in memory of Buddha and the Buddhist cosmic or “World Mountain”
Symmetrical: Having both sides exactly the same
Texture: In art pieces, real or implied surface quality

What Students Need to Learn:

1. Understand that architecture is the art of designing buildings.
2. Understand symmetry and line of symmetry, and observe symmetry in design of some buildings (such as the Parthenon).
3. Note line, form, and special features (such as columns and domes) in The Parthenon, Great Stupa, Himeji Castle, and
Guggenheim Museum.

At a Glance: Most important ideas for the student are:

1. Viewers can physically experience and interact with architecture.
2. Form, color, texture, and line are the major elements of architecture.
3. Architecture can be constructed from many different natural and manufactured materials.
4. Architecture has two major divisions: private and public.
Thinking
# Method Objectives Higher Order Questioning Materials
Framework
Demonstration Students will be introduced to Architecture and Q. Did you ever build a tent Pencils, Knowledge,
Class write a description of walking into the room. out of a sheet draped over crayons, and Patterns
Discussion, Architecture is the art of designing buildings. A chairs or furniture? Did you paper Modeling
Activity person who designs a building is called an architect. ever build a “house” to play Creativity
in using found objects at Architecture
Lesson Ideas: home or outside? Did you
1. Be introduced to architecture (Background ever doodle design a fantasy
section page 283 in 2nd grade Core Knowledge building?
 Handbook)
2. Write about a short walking tour through
the classroom. Practice writing skills and
scientific directional skills in describing
exactly what happens from the moment you
walk in the door until you’ve toured all corners
of the room.

Discussion, Students will be introduced to Why Build, Materials Q. How did indigenous Printouts of Knowledge,
Activity and Locations, Color and Texture in architecture. groups use different natural different Patterns
(pg 284 in CK 2nd Grade Teacher Handbook) materials for building? environments Modeling
(Cross Curriculum Link to Social Studies units) and homes Creativity
Q. How many different from around
Lesson Ideas: textures and colors can you the world
1. Make printouts of different environments. count on the interior of our and different
2. Make a list of all different types of natural school? cultures
materials that would be available to build
shelters in each locale. Branches, leaves, Q. How many different Pencils and
stalks, grass, straw, animal hiked, mud, and textures and colors can you paper
stones are some examples. count on the exterior of our
3. Connect to Social Studies units. Looking at the school?
way early indigenous inhabitants in different
regions used natural materials for building.
4. Focus on color and texture by going on a
texture hunt around the classroom, rough
brick, smooth floors, fuzzy carpet, wood grain
bumps on doors, smooth metal for door handle,
etc.
Class (WHEN POSSIBLE) Students can have a local Q. What did you learn from An architect Knowledge
Discussion, architect come to class to give a presentation about the architect and his/her Modeling
what is involved in being an architect. presentation today? Paper and Patterns
pencils for Creativity
They will give details about what kinds of subjects thank you
they study to be an architect and share some projects letters
they have worked on.

Lesson Ideas:
1. Write thank you letters and talk about what
they learned about architecture.

Demonstration Students will practice identifying the elements of Q. What shapes did the Photos of Knowledge
Class architecture with either a field trip or photos of architect use? local Modeling
Discussion, local buildings. buildings Patterns
Activity Q. What are some of the with Creativity
Lesson Ideas: special features of the interesting
1. Look at pictures of local buildings and identify architectural drawing? architecture
the architectural elements on and within the
buildings. Q. Imagine the building CK
2. Learn to identify columns, windows, roof, without the triangles and Instructional
arch, dome, etc. only flat roof. Would you Master Parts
3. Do the CK Instructional Master Parts of like it more or less, and of Buildings
Buildings where students draw a picture of a why?
dream building with the architectural
elements.
Or
4. Use cut out colored papers in small rectangles
and squares to cut out arches, domes, columns,
roofs, etc. to make building towers. Populate
the buildings with people and animals after.
5. With a partner, take turns describing the
special features of each other’s building.

Demonstration Students will be introduced to The Parthenon and Q. The columns and roof Reproduction Knowledge
Class make a picture that is either symmetrical or seem to pint up to the ski. of The Modeling
Discussion, asymmetrical. Why does that seem right Parthenon Patterns
Activity . for a temple? Creativity
(Cross Curriculum Link to study of Ancient Greece. Paper &
Read Greek Mythology stories.) Q. Where do you symmetry colored
in this building? pencils
The Parthenon was built over 2,000 years ago to
honor the Greek goddess Athena. Notice the up and Q. What other things are
down vertical lines made by the many columns. The symmetrical?
columns hold up the roof.
A. Picasso’s Bull’s Head
Lesson Ideas: Butterfly, valentine, etc.
1. Go over Q.’s on back of reproduction.
2. Draw a line down the middle of the façade.
Count the columns on each side.
This imaginary line is called the line of symmetry.
Symmetric means same on both sides.
3. Compare the Lincoln Memorial with the
Parthenon. Show how the Parthenon
influenced the Memorial of our 16th
President.
4. Show the Elgin Marbles.
5. Fold a paper in half as the line of symmetry
and make a picture that is either
symmetrical or asymmetrical. (Option:
Use cut out geometric shapes.)
6. Guess if it is symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Demonstration Students will be introduced to the Great Stupa Q. What is the biggest form Reproduction Knowledge
Class (Cross Curriculum Link to study of Ancient India. you see in the Stupa? of The Great Modeling
Discussion, Read The Blind Men and the Elephant which is also Stupa Patterns
Activity from India.) A. The dome of half sphere Creativity
is the largest shape.
The Stupa is no longer a burial mound but a symbolic
object for Buddhist followers. Q. What shapes did the
architect use?
Lesson Ideas:
 1. Learn about the Great Stupa and the CK Q.’s A. The architect used
2. Make domed paper sculpture with paper strips. circles, rectangles, and
ovals.

Demonstration Students will be introduced to Himeji (White Q. What kinds of line can Art poster Knowledge
Class Heron) Castle you see on this building? Himeji Modeling
Discussion, (Cross Curriculum Link to study of Japan. Read The (White Patterns
Activity Tongue cut Sparrow which is also from Japan.) Heron) Creativity
Q. What shapes do you see Castle
Lesson Ideas: most often?
1. Learn about Himeji Castle and go over the CK
Q.’s.
2. Make paper sculpture with paper strips folded
in triangle shapes.
Demonstration Students will be introduced to Frank Lloyd Q. What is the purpose of Art Poster of Knowledge
Class Wright, Guggenheim Museum. this museum? the Modeling
Discussion, Guggenheim Patterns
Activity Lesson Ideas: Q. How is this building Museum Creativity
1. Learn about the Guggenheim Museum and different from the ones
Frank Lloyd Wright and go over the CK Q.’s surrounding it? Lots of
2. Re-create the Guggenheim Museum using newspapers
newspapers or recycle paper and tape in 20 and tape
minutes.
3. Will make it strong enough to hold up a
dictionary or something like that.
Demonstration Students will design a building using the list of Q. What is the purpose of Art poster Knowledge
Class elements of architecture. each of the architectural images of Modeling
Discussion, elements? The Patterns
Activity Lesson Ideas: Parthenon, Creativity
1. Look over and review some elements of Q. What is the purpose of The Great
architecture using poster images of The your building? Stupa,
Parthenon, The Great Stupa, Himeji Castle, Himeji
and the Guggenheim Museum. Q. Is your building Castle, and
2. Design a building using the list of elements symmetrical or the
of architecture. asymmetrical? Guggenheim
3. Write a paragraph describing the Museum.
 architectural elements and the purpose of paper and
the building. pencils and
4. Share with the class. colors
Discussion TEST QUESTIONS: Students will be able to Knowledge
answer these questions at the end of this unit;
1. Q. What is architecture?
A. Architecture is the art of designing
buildings.
2. Q. What are some key elements of art in
architecture?
A. Key elements in architecture include color,
line, form, and texture.
3. What natural materials do architects use
present and past?
A. Materials include wood, stone, clay, straw,
leaves, and animal hides.