Summer SAVY, Session 6 Day 3, “Dive Into Design” (1st-2nd)
Happy Wednesday!
We had a wonderful Wednesday! The morning started off with a virtual visit from an architect student, Ms. Ashley. She shared about some of the classes she has taken, ranging from studio design and history of architecture and interiors to environmental systems, and color and lighting. We learned how math, chemistry, art, and history come together to inspire architects in the field. We saw 3D models of a chair, a temple, and a framed house, and we saw tools including an architectural scale and Miter Shears.
Then, we explored comparing and ordering objects. We used strips of paper to discover that knowing the relationship between one item and a second item, and a second item and a third item, you can figure out the relationship between the first and third item. See if you can solve this riddle: Amy is shorter than Aaron. Alice is shorter than Amy. Who is the tallest?
This afternoon, we got to solve another problem for the construction crew and architects. “The builders want the pool to have 6 lanes. How can they decide how wide to make each lane?” We explored partitioning as we used linking cubes, pipe cleaners, and Play-Dough to partition objects into equal parts. A big takeaway was that equal parts can be put together to make a whole. We also learned the terms one-half, one-quarter, one-third, and one whole so we could communicate about measurement more specifically.
Today, a student made a real-world connection between our learning and the job that his father has. He was able to bring in architectural designs and plans of an actual pool. It was amazing to see the students connect ideas like 2D sketches, labels, technology integration, and how detail-oriented architectural plans really are. Thank you so much for creating this authentic experience for our class!
Finally, we applied all of today’s learning to complete the first steps in creating our 3D pool model. We used our 2D sketches to create the deep end and shallow end in our 3D models and incorporated markings for the swimming lanes. This caused a few changes to our initial design ideas. Ask your learner which changes they made, if any, and why they made the change! It was impressive to see some students partner up to create their design and the collaboration throughout the building process. Bravo!
Here are some dinner table discussion questions:
- How did adding the swimming lanes to the pool impact your 2D sketch design?
- Are there any special features you want to include in your design that you’re unsure about creating? How might you solve this problem?
- Why is it important for architects to be detailed and flexible in their designs?
- What challenges or successes did you experience in the first steps of creating your 3D pool model?
Have a great evening!
Warmly,
Ms. Courtney and Kat