We've been spending the past couple of weeks exploring architecture during our morning work and STEAM time. Here is our board where we documented our learning as we worked through the learning objectives (I used selected lessons from Architecture, It's Elementary which you can get for free here)...
First, we learned about different vocabulary words using the book Into the Sky, along with different textures, doors, and window types, and simple floor plans.
Before we got into our block building we performed a simple experiment: Taking different shaped forms we tested their strength by setting books one at a time on top of each one. Afterwards, we discussed how columns are used to support buildings.
Floor planning commenced!
The students spent time constructing a variety of different structures using different blocks, but their favorite was building castles using the MagnaTiles.
We used primarily these three mentor texts during our learning: Into the Sky, Iggy Peck Architect (by far the children's favorite for it's rhyming, humorous tale) and How a House is Built.
