The Gallery:
Levering Middle School

Spring 1997
Teacher: Lana Perry,
Grades 7-8
Architect: John Thompson
Student: Jill Arrison

This team wanted to reflect architecture as the equivalent of how structure, climate and materials affect human needs and wants.

They introduced or underscored vocabulary words each session, and featured key architects for each section of the project. They constantly introduced the students to new images and ideas, and reinforced what they had previously learned.

They talked about structures in nature, and the students built paper domes. They talked about how available materials affect possible structures.

The students discussed the types of environments that they were interested in exploring, and the class voted to determine the top four choices. The students were divided into four groups, and each group voted on which animal they wanted to build a house for in that particular environment.

First, each student sculpted his or her animal (seals, snakes, penguins, and monkeys). They researched and talked about the kind of habitat and dwelling that the animal would need and like.

They drew floorplans for their designs to the scale of their animals. Then, they began working on their models. Each group drew a map of the zoo they had collectively designed for their particular climate.

The project culminated in a zoo trip and expo.