I've only done smidges of architecture stuff in our day camps for 8-11 year
olds. Here are my paltry suggestions (and I've pocketed the refs to
architectureisfun and cube for my own use -- yippee!):

I would have a combination of some group work and some individual work.
They really do very well doing problem-solving in pairs.

Having pairs be arches, and then 2 other kids be buttresses is a good
hands-on activity.

I've included a book, What It Feels like to Be a Building, in a loan box at
work. It's a fun book that shows the forces that various structures like
arches and corbels and beams deal with. I have no idea if it's still in print.

I've used a Roman arch model from Edmund Scientifics: a bunch of wooden
blocks that fit together making an arch. What the kids did after they got
it together was they removed blocks one by one to find the vital ones
holding the arch up. It cost $30.

You can always have the kids do both a blueprint *and* a model using some
simple materials (straws, cardboard, string, etc.). After discussing a
principle, like cantilevering, you could have them try to build something
with that in it. I would recommend having them doing the building/modeling
in pairs -- the blueprints could be done individually.

Like you, I had only taught college before teaching kids at camp. It's a
very different ball of wax. They can listen to you talk for only so
long...even less than freshmen.

I wouldn't have them design colleges, as someone suggested. Maybe secret
labs instead. ;-) Or have them design 2 different buildings: a house and a
secret lab.



---Amy

------------------------------
Look, I have ONE job on this lousy ship. It's STUPID, but I'm gonna do it,
OKAY?
- Gwen DeMarco in _Galaxy Quest_

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).