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Middle School Architecture Rocks! - 9 Lessons of Arch History & Design over 18 weeks (Meets every other week.)

In 9 lessons over 18 weeks, students (11-14yrs) will learn architecture history, sketching, basic architectural design & presentation skills by completing design projects and arch history assignments every 2 weeks + a final design project.
Amy Gillispie
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(163)
Class

What's included

18 live meetings
9 in-class hours

Class Experience

Class Experience
This ​"Middle School Architecture Rocks" course created by Mrs. G.  (Building Brilliant Minds Online School of the Arts) provides students with a strong architectural design foundation through architectural projects, architectural sketching and research.  This course is fairly intense with six to ten hours of work suggested for each of the nine lessons taken over 18 weeks in the Fall Semester.   By the end of the course, students will have an idea of the architectural periods throughout history, a strong foundation in drawing and modeling techniques and will have completed a final architectural design project in the form of plans, elevations and models.

WEEKLY CLASS FORMAT:

NEW CONTENT:   
Every other week for eighteen weeks the teacher will provide students a lesson and a new architectural design challenge.  
The last week will be focused on the presenting and review of students' final projects.

Mrs. G. will have open office hours every other week when students are working on their projects between the Lessons.

---During the live meeting,  each student will present their work to the class for constructive feedback from Mrs. G.  and other students.  
--Each student will have a few minutes to tell us about their design or architectural solution. They may ask questions and receive feedback and help from me as well as other students.  
--Each student is required to present their work. This is a crucial part of the process. It is a very important part of architectural school as well as real-world practice. The class will be positive and welcoming. There will be feedback, but the goal is to encourage students to encourage them to be proud of doing their best. 

DISCUSSION PROMPT:   
The teacher will provide a weekly architecture related questions or potential debate as a discussion prompt.  Students will be encourage to respond in the forum, which is moderated by the instructor, and can be accessed by learners at any point throughout the course.   Students may use the forum to discuss their ideas and responses to the architectural question/debate.

INTERACTION:    
Throughout the week, students will also be encouraged to post photos of the progress of their projects and their questions for encouraging comments or answers from the teacher and each other.   

Are you having any challenges with the project?
Do you need some advice?
Which of the other students' project from the previous lesson is your favorite?  Why?
Did you enjoy completing the project?
How long did you work on your project?  

Sometimes students will share their own favorite architectural resources.  Throughout the course, be on the look out for links for supplemental videos and architectural information posted by the teacher. 

COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT:  
Students will spend time completing their assigned architecture projects.  These will be due every other week to ensure that students have time to complete their work while working on their core classes.

Projects are due by 5:30EST the day before their live "lesson" class.

SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT: 
Students post photos of their completed architecture project in the classroom on the designated post. 

FEEDBACK:  
The teacher will review student work within 48 hours of it being posted.  She will answer questions and respond to student posts throughout the week.  For those students who post photos of their work for each of the nine assignment, Mrs. G.  will email a completion certificate.  It is suggested that those students working at a high school level, receive 1/2 high school credit for this course from their homeschool or co-op organizers.

• This wonderful curriculum was created by Building Brilliant Minds Online School of the Arts. 

• Technical Problems: If you are experiencing technical problems please contact Outschool Support at Support@outschool.com

Learning Goals

By the end of the course, students will have an idea of the architectural periods throughout history, a strong foundation in drawing and modeling techniques and will have completed a final architectural design project in the form of plans, elevations and models.

ourse Objectives:
- To become familiar with some architectural vocabulary
- To become familiar with 8 periods of architecture from Classical to postmodernism
- To learn the basics of design and drawing/modeling  techniques
- To be challenged to think and work “outside the box” in 2-D and 3-D formats
- To create a strong architecture portfolio

Short Preliminary Assignment:  (1 week to complete.). - This will be sent out the week before class begins.

Lesson 1:  (Two weeks are given to complete each Lesson)
Introduction
Ancient/Classical Architecture
Assignment of projects/homework

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 2:
Byzantine Architecture
Assignment of Projects/homework

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 3:
Gothic Architecture
Assignment of Projects/homework

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 4:
Renaissance Architecture
Assignment of Projects/homework

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 5:
Baroque Architecture
Assignment of Projects/homework

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 6:
18th Century Architecture
Assignment of Projects/homework

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 7:
Modern Architecture
The Final Project Assigned
Assignment of Projects/homework
Great week to email your instructor all of your questions!!

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 8:
Post-Modern Architecture
Assignment of Projects/homework
Continue working on your final project

Open Discussion Week

Lesson 9:
The Architecture Timeline
Continue working on your final project
Great week to email your instructor all of your questions!!

Final Project Presentation week
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
Website links provided by Building Brilliant Minds Online School of the Arts

Materials needed for Weeks 1 and 2 (+ ruler, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, and scissors)
Drawing Paper - 120 sheets - 11" x 14" 
Sketchbook/Blank Book or Spiral Sketch Pad - 100 sheets - 9" x 12" 
Sharpe Markers - Fine or Ultra Fine or both 

Materials needed for future weeks:
Drafting Templates - Circles/Squares/Triangle - General purpose usually works fine,
Tracing Paper - 50 sheets - 9" x 12"
Architectural Triangle - 45/45/90 or 30/60/90 Degrees
12 Inch Triangular Architectural Scaled Ruler
Steel Ruler (for cutting)
poster board or card stock
foam core (11 x 14" or larger)

Misc.  Supplies dependent upon your student's ideas!
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined March, 2020
4.8
163reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hi!  Mrs.  G. here :).

So, you want to know a little about me?  

My husband and I have been homeschooling our nine children through high school for over twenty years.  We have found homeschooling to be hard work, yet incredibly successful!  Homeschooling ROCKS!  Our children have done well.  Three of them graduated from high school just turning sixteen and are done (or almost done) with their college degrees.  Three of our children were adopted and have special needs. (Feel free to ask me questions about RAD and FASD:).  Miracles have happened for them!  (One is off to college and two have recently graduated from high school:).  Our youngest three give me job security as we've at least ten more years of homeschooling ahead.

I  graduated from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a B.S.  in Architecture in the 1990s.  For two and half years, I pursued a Master’s of Theological Studies with a concentration in Liturgical Architecture.  After graduating from college, I worked in two major architecture firms and as a freelance designer.  I was competitive in the academic and professional architectural settings  

I began teaching architecture to high school and homeschool students from around the world in 2009 when I created the company Building Brilliant Minds Online.  I enjoy teaching many of the "Arts" disciplines because the learning possibilities are endless!   Giving students the opportunity to explore the world of Architecture and The Arts   “Builds Brilliant Minds”.

So why create courses in the Arts"?  

Short Answer:  
My response to the gifts God has given me over the years!  
It is just what I was created to do.  

My Experience in "The Arts"

Entrenched in the field of photography during my late high school and early college days, I earned money for books and entertainment taking photos and developing negatives. I miss my darkroom days! 

Music has always been on my schedule.   Piano is my favorite, yet from the age of 12, I played the organ for our church weekly until after I graduated from college.   In my search as to how to teach my children to play, I learned about Simply Music!  Hands down.. best "learn to play piano" method EVER!  I have never been so exited to teach music.  It is all play based (not reading based) and WOW.. the results.... AMAZING!  

As a registered teacher for the Institute of Excellence in Writing, I have been blessed to help even the most reluctant writing students thrive.  So rewarding for all!

From the time I was four until I graduated high school, I was devoted to dance..  For seven years, I danced in a ballet/jazz dance company, on a scholarship.  We used to perform every Friday in the schools.  I developed a reputation for "dancing and musical architecture" because of the directions I took with college architectural design challenges.  

It wasn't until after high school that I stepped into the theatrical world.  I've been working with and directing children's musicals since 1990.  In the past ten years, I have directed homeschooled kids in musicals including: "The Enchanted Journey", "Willy Wonka", the "Wizard of Oz", "Annie Jr",  "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat" and "The Story of the Nutcracker".   This year we are rehearsing for "Aladdin JR".    Working with this troupe has been a dream come true! .  Watching them grow has been a huge blessing!

Blessed with personal experience with Architecture, Art, Design, Theater, Music, Dance, Photography, and Writing, I have used my experience to teach my children and many students from around the world many mediums of "The Arts".  Bringing it all together for students and providing them some of the tools which they will need for any of the design fields is one of my greatest joys. Supporting the method and concepts of Project Based Learning is a natural extension of my education and my teaching experience.

Most importantly, I thrive on using my artistic talents to bring Glory to Our Father in Heaven and teaching others how to do so as well.

To HIM be the Glory!

Current Professional Memberships held by Mrs. G.:
Registered Teacher for the Institute of Excellence in Writing
Licensed Simply Music Piano teacher
National Art Honor Society Chapter Sponsor
The National Art Education Association
Special Needs in Art Education (SNAE)
The Ohio State University Alumni Society
The Design Issues Group Show Less...

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Live Group Class
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$325

for 18 classes

1x per week, 18 weeks
30 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
3-12 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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