| Activity summary: |
- Each member of the class can make a triangular unit which when combined forms a three-dimensional modular structure.
- The activity references architectural structures that use the same modular principal: The Eden Project, The Great Court and Buckminster Fuller's invention the Geodesic Dome.
- Links can be made with National Curriculum schemes of work:
D&T: Construction, Structures (Unit 1D, 1B)
Maths: Measures, Shape & space, Solving problems
History: Home (Unit 2)
Citizenship: collaborative teamwork, affordable housing
- Extension tasks:
Art: Draw the structure
Art: Clad and decorate the structure using a range of themes, refer to Islamic Art
D&T: Scale - develop ideas for a range of dwellings, make small-scale prototypes using same technique
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| Lesson Plan:
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1. Introduce building
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Buildings are made by people. They are made up of individual modular components like bricks which are combined to make larger structures.
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- Identify any examples within sight e.g. wall, paving
- Reference Buckminster Fuller's Geodesic Dome
- Reference architectural structures: The Eden Project and The Great Court.
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2. Introduce the properties of materials
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Consideration needs to be given to the properties of materials in order to use those that are appropriate and available.
Consider the properties of flat sheets of newspaper (Keywords: flexible, section/component, 2d, rectangular, geometric shape)
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3. Demonstrate making a unit
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Demonstrate how the properties of newspaper can change by making a modular triangle unit
- Select 5 sheets of newspaper per unit.
- Roll into a baton starting with the short side of a broadsheet and long side of a tabloid paper. Roll quite tightly keeping edges aligned.
- Secure each end with masking tape (5cm strip)
- Make 3 batons for one triangular unit. Attach ends with tape.
(Keywords: modular unit, inflexible, section/component, 3-dimensional, equilateral triangle, tessellating shapes)
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4. Organise building teams
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Working together as a team of builders involves collaboration, planning and design, like working in a classroom.
Outline activity, organise teams.
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5. Make and build the structure
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Each child makes a triangle unit
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6. Combine 15 units (45 batons) to make a geodesic structure (refer to Geodesic Dome reference)
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7. Clad and decorate the structure
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Demonstrate folding a sheet of newspaper into a triangle. These can be painted and used to clad the structure like tiles.
Attach tiles to the structure using masking tape. Each child could make an individual tile based on a theme
(a place, materials, a season) or the class could design and plan a co-ordinated design.
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Recommendations:
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- The support of a classroom assistant is helpful.
- Consider similar architectural structures, a climbing frame or tepee, that use alternative building materials.
- Small-scale versions could be made instead or as prototypes.
- Use brightly coloured display paper for cladding rather than painted tiles, can then attach items or paint onto final structure.
- The building of the structure requires a smaller number of pupils so an extension class is required e.g. evaluation, draw structure
- The cladding is time consuming, use as an extension task.
- The final structure requires a large display or storage area.
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| Use broadsheet or tabloid newspaper |
Roll the paper on a hard surface |
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| Cut or tear strips of masking tape |
Secure the roll with tape at both ends |
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| Work in pairs to join the rolls together |
15 triangular units made this model |
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| Collaborate to position the sections |
Hold and secure with masking tape |
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| Fold a sheet of paper for the cladding |
Paint the tiles or use display paper |
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| A geodesic structure |
A dwelling |
| Work completed by 88 Year 5 pupils at
St Clements CE, Radclyffe Community, and St Joseph's RC primary schools,
in Salford, Manchester and Year 10 pupils at Hope High School. |
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| What they said about it
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| Evaluation by Year 5 and their teacher
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"The children thoroughly enjoyed the project and got so much out of it. It
fulfilled aspects of the D&T curriculum and there were lots of opportunities
for cross-curricular links. Not only that but the children loved working as
a team and had to collaborate at every stage of the process. Some have even
gone home and built a similar structure using different materials!"
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| Year 5 Teacher
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"It was good to work in a team and make something out of things you normally
throw away, it's like we made something out of nothing."
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| Year 5 Pupil
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"Out of one simple thing, a shape you can make something more complicated,
so if I wanted to build something now I'd know what to do."
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| Year 5 Pupil
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"It was really good fun. It was fun to work together and make something
in a group, as we all had something to do with it."
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| Year 5 Pupil
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RIBA Architect in the House
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