Thinking Inside the Box Kit

Project Overview
Title: Awesome Architecture!

Grade Level: 3-5

Concepts Introduced:

 Architecture
 Building/Construction
 History of Architecture
 Famous Architects

Goals & Objectives:

After checking out the “Awesome Architecture!” kit and completing the activities within, the child will be able to
do the following:

1. Describe various ancient and modern architectural marvels.

2. Identify famous architects and their specific contributions.
3. Identify the steps an architect takes to design a structure.
4. Identify the steps a construction crew takes to build a structure.
5. Create original three-dimensional structures inspired by architectural styles.
 Annotated Bibliography

Dillon, P., & Biesty, S. (2014). The story of buildings: From the Pyramids to
the Sydney Opera House and beyond. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Description: Examines how architecture has evolved over time by looking

at buildings that typify each period, from the pyramids and the
Parthenon to the Chrysler Building and the Sydney Opera House.

96 Pages

Beck, B. (2014). The future architect's handbook. Atglen, PA: Schiffer

Publishing.

Description: Introduces architecture and how architects work by tracing

each step in the building of an imaginary house, from the initial idea to
the development of plans to the point where the architect can pass the
designs to a contractor.

48 Pages

Alphin, T. (2015). The LEGO architect. San Francisco: No Starch Press.

Description: Use LEGO models to explore Neoclassical, Art Deco,

Brutalist, Modernist, and other architectural styles. Each chapter includes
a discussion of the architectural movement, photographs of famous real-
life buildings, and a gallery of LEGO models, with step-by-step building
instructions.

192 Pages

Labrecque, E., & Hammond, T. (2015). Who was Frank Lloyd Wright? New
York: Grosset & Dunlap.

Description: Kid-friendly biography of the influential and world-renowned

architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

112 Pages
Annotated Bibliography (cont.)

Harris, N. (2009). A year at a construction site. Minneapolis, MN:

Millbrook Press.

Description: Spend twelve months following the construction of a school

building.

24 Pages

Macaulay, D. (1980). Unbuilding. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Description: This fictional account of the dismantling and removal of the

Empire State Building describes the structure of a skyscraper and explains
how such an edifice would be demolished.

80 Pages

Sandweiss, L. A., Harris, P., & Obata, G. (2001). St. Louis architecture for
kids. St. Louis, MO: Missouri Historical Society Press.

Description: Introduces Saint Louis, Missouri, through rhymes about the

city's architectural works and major attractions, presented alphabetically.

32 Pages

Bill Nye the Science Guy: Architecture [Motion picture on DVD]. (2003).
United States: Disney Educational Productions.

Description: Bill Nye demonstrates various experiments and activities to

explain architectural concepts.

30 Minutes
Annotated Bibliography (cont.)

Glassman, G. (Director). (2015). NOVA: Building Wonders [Motion picture

on DVD]. United States: PBS.

Description: In Building Wonders, NOVA presents three groundbreaking

shows that investigate engineering mysteries of the ancient world with
the help of dramatic hands-on experiments.

180 Minutes

Protess, D. (Producer). (2013). 10 Buildings that Changed America

[Motion picture on DVD]. United States: PBS.

Description: 10 Buildings That Changed America tells the stories of ten

influential works of architecture, the people who imagined them, and the
way these landmarks ushered in innovative cultural shifts throughout our
society.

56 Minutes
 Webliography

Website: http://www.physicsgames.net/category/Construction_Games_1.html

Description: PhysicsGames.net provides a huge variety of free construction-themed games. Learn how
to build bridges, towers, and more!

Website: http://www.buildwithchrome.com/

Description: Using Chrome, visitors to the site can build structures with virtual LEGO bricks. Interactive maps
provided by Google make the virtual experience even more realistic!

Website: http://www.biography.com/people/groups/famous-architects

Description: This site provides kid-friendly biographies of famous architects from around the world!

Website: http://www.dkfindout.com/us

Description: Visitors to this site can search for and read kid-friendly articles about famous historical landmarks
like the Taj Mahal, Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, and more!

Website: http://www.kidsthinkdesign.org/architecture/index.html

Description: This collaborative website allows kids to submit their unique design projects for others to view on
the site. Visitors to the site can also learn about museum design, meet architects, and complete do-it-yourself
architecture projects.
 Supply List & Budget:

Item Price
1 Clear tote with attached lid $17.00
Book: The Story of Buildings $16.00
Book: The Future Architect’s Handbook $13.00
Book: The LEGO Architect $13.00
Book: Who Was Frank Lloyd Wright? $5.00
Book: A Year at a Construction Site $6.00
Book: Unbuilding $12.00
Book: St. Louis Architecture for Kids $16.00
DVD: Ten Buildings that Changed America $15.00
DVD: Building Wonders $15.00
DVD: Bill Nye - Architecture $15.00
Excellerations Building Brilliance Magnetic Shapes $105.00
LEGO Classic Creative Large Blocks $50.00
LEGO Building Plate $8.00
Masking Tape $2.00
Newspaper FREE
Graph Paper $3.00
Pencil $.50

Total: $312.50
Awesome Architecture!
A “Think Inside the Box” Kit for 3-5th Grade
Containing the Following:

Themed
Books and
DVDs!

Magnetic
Building
set!

LEGO
Bricks!

And more… check it out today!

 Awesome Architecture!
Kit Contents:
Items to Return:
 1 Clear tote with attached lid
 Book: The Story of Buildings
 Book: Who Was Frank Lloyd Wright?
 Book: The Future Architect’s Handbook
 Book: The LEGO Architect
 Book: St. Louis Architecture for Kids
 Book: A Year at a Construction Site
 Book: Unbuilding
 DVD: NOVA – Building Wonders
 DVD: Bill Nye the Science Guy – Architecture
 DVD: 10 Buildings that Changed America
 Excellerations Building Brilliance Magnetic Shapes
 LEGO Classic Creative Large Container
 LEGO Building Plate

Items to Keep:
 Newspaper
 Masking Tape
 Graph Paper
 Pencil Please double check the
contents of the kit prior
to returning to ensure
that all returnable items
are present. Thank you!
 Building with Newspaper
Although it may seem like a flimsy
material, newspaper becomes fairly
sturdy when rolled. Follow the steps
below to create your own structure
out of rolled newspaper.

Directions:

1. Take a folded sheet of newspaper and roll it. You

can roll it across the long side or the short side.
You’ll need:
2. Put a small piece of masking tape at either side
of the roll to hold it in place.  Newspaper
 Masking tape
3. Repeat steps 1-2 until you have at least a dozen
sheets of newspaper rolled up.
Warning: Your hands may get
4. Create triangle and square shapes out of the inky!
newspaper. Use masking tape to attach the
rolls to one another.

5. After creating several triangular or square

shaped structures, tape the structures to one
another to create a 3-dimensional, geometric
shape.

6. Experiment with different shapes and designs.

Feel free to use all the newspaper and tape in
the kit!
 Extension activities

Activity 1: LEGO Architect

After reading The LEGO Architect, use the LEGO bricks

provided in the kit to recreate one of the design styles
seen in the book. Some examples would be a house
with a domed roof or an art deco “prairie style” design.

Activity 2: LEGO Skyscraper Challenge

After reading Unbuilding, design and build a

skyscraper out of LEGO bricks. When you are
finished, devise a plan to dismantle your skyscraper.

Activity 3: Magnetic Shapes Free Build!

Use the magnetic shapes to create your own

unique structure! How many different types of
buildings, bridges, spaceships, etc. can you
create?

Activity 4: Blueprints and Floorplans

Architects create blueprints and other design plans when

designing structures. Using the graph paper, create a
floorplan of your “dream house” or other fantastical
structure. Make it as a simple or as whimsical as you
want!