Lesson Plan Originally Created By:
Barbara Worden
Architectural Styles - The Grand Finale (4 of 4)
Part of Unit: Orientation/The World of Architecture
Lesson Plan Overview / Details
In this lesson students will design and build a Gingerbread House depicting the common characteristics they discovered for the Time Period they studied and presented for the "Styles of Architecture Found in the United States Today" project earlier this year. They will be working in the same teams they worked in for the project.
This is a fun activity and a great final exam to end the semester. Students love it. It allows them to use their creativity and it's not stressful like your typical final. Also the end result goes to a good cause (if this is what you choose to do.)
The idea for this final came from the students themselves a few
years ago. The gingerbread houses that they design and built
are donated to a local daycare after the final is over. The
daycare we donate our gingerbread houses too happens to be run by
the mother of one of my former students. I generally deliver
them and get to see the reaction of the kids. They love them. It's
a fun way to end the year.
.
Lesson Time
- 1 Class Period
- 90 Minutes
- 1 Class Period (Finals)
- 2 Hours
Standards
California Career and Technical Education Standards
- ED.A.A1.1 Know significant historical architectural and structural projects and their effe...
- ED.A.A1.2 Understand the development of architectural and structural systems in relation t...
- ED.FS.10.4 Acquire, store, allocate, and use materials and space efficiently.
- ED.FS.11.0 Demonstration and Application
- ED.FS.5.1 Apply appropriate problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills to wor...
- ED.FS.5.3 Use critical thinking skills to make informed decisions and solve problems.
- ED.FS.6.2 Understand the critical elements of health and safety practices related to stori...
- ED.FS.7.1 Understand the qualities and behaviors that constitute a positive and profession...
- ED.FS.7.2 Understand the importance of accountability and responsibility in fulfilling per...
- ED.FS.7.3 Understand the need to adapt to varied roles and responsibilities.
- ED.FS.7.4 Understand that individual actions can affect the larger community.
- ED.FS.8.2 Understand the concept and application of ethical and legal behavior consistent ...
- ED.FS.8.3 Understand the role of personal integrity and ethical behavior in the workplace.
- ED.FS.9.1 Understand the characteristics and benefits of teamwork, leadership, and citizen...
- ED.FS.9.2 Understand the ways in which preprofessional associations, such as SkillsUSA, co...
- ED.FS.9.3 Understand how to organize and structure work individually and in teams for effe...
- ED.FS.9.4 Know multiple approaches to conflict resolution and their appropriateness for a ...
- ED.FS.9.5 Understand how to interact with others in ways that demonstrate respect for indi...
Objectives and Goals
- This is a fun activity with no stress and good choice for a Final Exam at the winter break. Students will utilize the knowledge they have gained in their research and presentation of their Architectural Styles project and build a good representation including special characteristics of their time period.
- Students share the satisfaction that they are providing a service to the community by donating the finished houses to a local daycare.
- Students work efficiently as a member of a design team and interact professionally with team members.
- Students formulate solutions to architectural design problems
- Students present and justify design solutions and present their findings.
Activities in this Lesson
- Start From Scratch - Hooks / Set
Students spend the last period before final exams collaborating on their design for their gingerbread house. They need to incorporate as many of the distinguishing characteristics of their time period as possible. I have them sketch the design they will use.
Students need to come up with a list of supplies they need and decide which team member is going to bring what. When money was plentiful, I used to have them give me a list and I would provide all of the materials. This year I told them that they needed to supply everything and they were fine with that.
Recommended supplies include graham wafers, icing, and plenty of candy for decoration. Some of the students premade some of their decorations (such as trees, etc) and brought them in Finals day.
I supply the base for the house to sit on (1" styrofoam works well) and the aluminum foil to cover the base. I also have knives and utensils because I don't want them bringing those on campus. If they need anything else they are responsible for letting me know ahead of time.
- Build a Gingerbread House - Group Work
Finals Day is here.
Students will build a Gingerbread House depicting their Style of Architecture. This should include good representation of the different characteristics of the styles in their time period.
Students need to have brought all of the materials with them and their sketch of the design that they are working from.
Students have about 1-1/2 hours to complete their gingerbread house.
- Clean up - Group Work
Students are responsible for cleaning up the classroom before they leave. This includes wiping any sticky surfaces and leaving the classroom in a manner that will not disrupt the next final.
- Peer Evaluation - Assessment
Students will judge the gingerbread houses by voting on their favorite. This is by secret ballot.
I also invite other teachers and administrators as well as other students who happen to wander through to vote on their favorite.
After break I let them know who was the all time favorite.
Everyone gets an A on this final as long as they participated and stayed actively involved. This is never an issue.
I have done this final for five years now and the results are amazing. I have included pictures of last years gingerbread houses.
- Gingerbread Houses.ppt [ Download ] Power point of completed Gingerbread Houses 2009
Assessment
- Assessment Types:
- Projects, Observations, Voting
