I proposed the laboratory “to be an architect for one day” to second grade students long ago and I could not have imagined how long it would take, nor how successful it would end up being. It was such a hit that students of other classes enthusiastically wanted to do it as well.
Without sketching any models of their houses, students of all ages tried to come up with their own projects: they started with the fundamentals of a house. I encouraged them by asking questions: “Where do you see your house?”,”Does it have a solid base?”,”Do you want to do something more conventional, or will it have its own, unique shape?”
They were free to create whatever they could imagine, either alone or in groups.
We started with popsicle sticks and added other materials later on: felt, clay, magic clay, straws, aluminum foil, yarn, tape, rubber bands, etc.
I told them that architects craft a small model replica first, in order to show it to potential clients. I chose Frank Lloyd Wright as an example of a talented architect, and had the children watch a short video of his majestic waterfall house to inspire them.
It takes time and commitment to create a functional house, along with passion and concentration- traits that this project would require the students to emulate.
Additionally, I introduced the possibility of adding details inside the house as a designer does, and also the possibility to paint the house after they finished the structure. They welcomed this with happy faces.
It is so interesting to hear them present their creations: lights which you can decide what length you want them, couches on the roof, spaghetti bowls in a cabin, an outside shower with supplies on top of the roof, a water house, a dog house with a huge pole where a bone is attached, a dragon nest under a tent. There is so much fantasy in these creations, and so much dedication.
This project also challenged the children on how to collaborate with each other, such as working together to complete certain parts, like how the house would resist integral and structural adversities and not collapse.
There is a lot of preparation, and making mistakes helps the students in utilizing critical thinking on how to fix problems that arise. It made me happy to see students helping each other out. I got to witness a lot of positivity in the classrooms: if a kid was saying that he/she wasn’t convinced about the design of their houses, I heard the other students say that it was not true and give compliments and constructive feedback about their works.
I told students that there isn’t such a thing as a beautiful or ugly house, but rather anything is possible in art and creativity, and to not be discouraged because the world is made great through diversity and functionality.
Here are some of their genius works: