Construction unit -2nd

Architecture unit with 2nd grade

I was inspired to begin an architecture unit with 2nd grade because it would connect with what we have already done with printmaking and colllographs, but also, because they very much enjoyed working in printmaking last week. I got this book for free and it was a major inspiration. 





Inside was a book, a very useful chart and various stamps that if combined could be used to explore architecture. The stamps were tiny. Great for one person, but, for a class that would be impossible to bank on these materials. So I printed a few resources for students to choose from and make one stamp, larger, about 1.5-3" squared. 

Because I teach in Spanish I added the Spanish words for these building parts. They will come in handy when we begin writing about our structures. 





Here are just a few samples of the stamps we will be using next time to create a 2d rendition of an architecture design. 

I tested out various mediums to see which one gave me richer results. Printmaking ink was not a winner. Students would have to not only roll the right amount of ink on each stamp but also put equal pressure on all parts for the prints to come out successfully. 


Tempera paint was not only messy. I used a brush to apply the wet medium. But the same issues came up as with the printmaking ink. 


Last, I created a stamp pad using Styrofoam trays and felt. I poured India ink on the felt and it functioned very much like a giant stamp pad. The only thing is that students would have to be reminded to rock the stamp up, down and side to side for all sides to print. I will also find some wooden blocks to use as stamp handles, which will help in bringing equal pressure on all parts of the stamp. 

5th Graders Design Rooms for One Another-NEED SMALL RECYCLABLE ITEMS

For design/architecture unit, each child in the 5th grade is designing a model bedroom for a peer "client" based on data they collected about this child through a questionnaire. Below are some resource images. My hope is that parents can help us collect some of these recyclable items which will help us create furniture for our project. These images were borrowed from Google Images online, I did not take the images myself, and I did not come up with the ideas, I simply collected them and do not take credit for them.

soda caps, strawberry tray, foil, tea box

here you see an egg carton turned into a chair

Here you see a box, and cloth turned into a bed.

cardboard, matchboxes, foil turned into a dresser with mirror.

a toothpaste box turned into a shelf

Books created by using stacked paper, folded. Covers created with images cut form magazines.

matchboxes, cloth, buttons, cloth wallpaper.

popsicle sticks table

images from catalogs fill in this house.

champaign top turned wire chair