Architecture

In this program you can build two mini school models. We recommend a 2 session to be able to delve into the topic and projects. Students will discover the genius of  new concepts and constructions in response to natural disasters that occur in Haiti and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, Floating Schools are a cutting edge and creative solution  to a difficult problem. Innovated by Mohammad Rezwan as a response to the annual destruction of schools brought by floods during the Monsoon season. These floating classrooms/boats travel along the shore, picking up students along the way.. These boats serve as libraries, computer science classrooms, and standard classrooms. The ingenuity does not stop there, he devised a system to use solar power to energize the Floating Schools  so they are  able to run electricity and power up computers and lights. Children who were left stranded are now learning again and thriving. This community is being ushered into the future of learning with resilience and fortitude. We will learn from their ingenious solutions in the face of adversity while constructing a Floating School. In Haiti schools have been constructed under tents to make sure that education and resilience continue among their communities. Students will build a tent school with desks and chairs while learning how students around the world adjust to circumstances they are given.
 

Early Egyptians believed in eternity. They recorded the stories of their Pharaohs and people for you to understand 4,000 years later. Discover how they built massive pyramids to protect the remains of their Pharaohs against time and thieves. They included models of all the comforts of life forever.

Construct a diorama of the Egyptian landscape, including a Pyramid, a Sphinx, camels, and the River Nile. Discover how Egyptians built massive pyramids to protect the remains of their Pharaohs against time and thieves. A hinged construction allows students to reveal the inner workings of a pyramid.
Create a sarcophagus, canopic jars, and jewels to fill your pyramid. These creations will be a symbol of the comforts of life that a Pharaoh would take on their journey to the afterlife.

Chinese gates signify thresholds between worlds and social realms, marking entrances to sacred spaces, cities, and even the afterlife. They often symbolize power, wealth, or cultural identity. These impactful structures are crucial symbols for the Chinese diaspora, serving as monumental declarations of heritage and cultural fusion. Students will learn the significance of Chinese Gates as well as construct one of their own and decorate it with traditional Chinese artistry.

A Roman villa was typically a farmhouse or country house in the territory of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. The earliest examples are mostly humble farmhouses in Italy, while from the Republican period on, a range of larger building types emerged, with some reaching extravagant proportions. Learn about Roman culture and construction.

The Ndebele are an ethnic group found in Southern Africa, divided into two main branches: the Northern Ndebele of Zimbabwe and the Southern Ndebele of South Africa. Alongside their distinctive culture, including vibrant geometric mural paintings, elaborate beadwork, these traditional homes are colorful works of art. 

Students will learn how women decorate their abodes with colorful care and ingenuity. Along with an explanation of the construction, decoration, and culture. This program is accompanied by a reading of Maya Angelou's thoughtful children's book to the students, "My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken."

A great example of human ingenuity, the sod houses of Ireland utilize stone and sod, which are readily available throughout the region. These houses exemplify the resourcefulness of the people building them. Another wonderful way humans improvise and secure shelter to bring them safety and a dwelling.

Greek temples were built to house statues of deities, acting as homes for the gods rather than places of worship for the general public. Learn about the specific architectural elements and how temples evolved from sacred groves found in nature to the grand houses of the gods that are still standing to this day around the Mediterranean.

Castles are a projection of power through architecture. From hill forts to motte and bailey, and eventually the classic stone keep, castles of Europe have undergone a splendid evolution. Occupying strategic geographic positions, they were used as seats of government, protection from attack, places to rest along routes of trade, and were even homes for some. Like most practical designs, European Castles reflect the style and resources of the regions from which they were built. Learn how different aspects of castle construction come together to serve a wide-ranging purpose.

The Stilt houses of Brazil's Amazon River Basin are fantastic examples of using local resources to adapt a shelter to meet the needs of people. Students will learn how geography, climate, and environmental predicaments steer civilizations into inventing new ways of living and thriving. 

A Pueblo house is an apartment-like structure built by Ancestral Puebloan people in the American Southwest. They are typically constructed with adobe bricks that are made of sun-dried clay, sand, and grass. These multi-story buildings, sometimes reaching four or five stories, were designed for defense and community living. They featured flat, earthen roofs accessible by ladders. Learn how these architectural marvels are built and the importance of climate and geography.