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SMALL CHANGES = BIG IMPACT, Designing for a Sustainable and Resilient Future
In July 2022, students from across Oregon and beyond participated in our virtual Architects in Schools Summer Camp. During this camp, students explored ways to address climate change through sustainable architecture and design solutions.
We are excited to publicly release the camp content again for you this Spring Break, 2023! Camp material is free, self-paced, and recommended for youth ages 8-12 – and everything you need can be found on this page!
How It Works
Each day of the five-day-long camp, students work through a lesson, watch videos featuring architects and design professionals, and complete a design activity or two. Everything is self-paced and can be found on this page, so take as much time as you want to work through the materials. We recommend students work through the content day by day and in order.
Students don’t have to complete everything if they are interested in some activities more than others. On the flip side, we have included daily bonus challenges for students who want more designing fun (keep in mind that you will need to complete the Solar S’mores challenge on a warm sunny day). Keep scrolling to get started!
All camp material below will remain available until April 30, 2023. Download a list of recommended art supplies.
Day 1: What Makes a Sustainable Place to Live?
Begin by downloading and printing out the Student Architect Journal. This is your student’s space to write, sketch, design, think out loud and develop numerous creative ideas!
Download the Day 1 Lesson. This document will lead your student through camp activities for the day. We recommend students view this document digitally so they can click on the embedded web links.
During Day 1, students will learn about sustainability and why it’s important for designers such as architects and engineers to always think about sustainable/green solutions when designing a building or space.
Day 1 Activity: Collage to Community – This activity leads students through thinking about what a healthy and sustainable community looks like to them. They will then create a collage of their ideal healthy community! Have your student follow the Day 1 Lesson and the Student Architect Journal to complete this activity.
Looking for more architecture fun? Try out the Day 1 Bonus Challenge: “Solar S’mores” on page 12 and 13 of the Architect Journal.
Use this form to share your student’s work with us! bit.ly/aisSB23-shareyourwork
Each day of camp, we offered an optional live session for students to continue learning about design, participate in an activity and connect with design professionals.
Watch the video below to participate in this live activity!
Day 2: All About Climate Change
Download the Day 2 Lesson and have your student view it digitally so they can click on the embedded web links. This document will lead them through camp activities for the day. Remember the Student Architect Journal from Day 1? Keep it nearby. Students will use it everyday throughout the camp.
During Day 2, students will learn how designing sustainably can help combat climate change and create healthy communities. They will look at examples of sustainable architecture from across the world and think about how they, too, can think and design sustainably!
Day 2 Activity: How Green is My Home? – After students watch the Day 2 videos, have them go to page 16 of the Student Architect Journal to complete this activity and a game called “What’s the Greener Thing?” They will take a look at their own daily habits and evaluate how sustainable they live.
Still want to do more? Try out the Day 2 Bonus Challenges: “Sustainability Journalist” and “Puppet Show Director” on pages 22 and 23 of the Architect Journal.
Use this form to share your student’s work with us! bit.ly/aisSB23-shareyourwork
Each day of camp, we offered an optional live session for students to continue learning about design, participate in an activity and connect with design professionals.
Watch the video and follow the instructions below to participate in this live activity!
Have page 24 open in your Student Architect Journal as you watch the activity portion of the live session.
Listen to the activity information from Sina and then choose whether your client is Sina, Ky, Crystal, Elyssa, EJ, Liz, Brian, Joann, Hannah or Brent. You get to be the architect AND the builder for your chosen client. Design and create a puppet according to the criteria that your chosen client asked for.
You can draw the design of your puppet on page 24 and also put down notes about the things your client wants. Create and decorate your puppet out of an old sock or small paper bag when you are ready!
Day 3: Designing for Resilience
Download the Day 3 Lesson and have your student view it digitally so they can click on the embedded web links. This document will lead them through camp activities for the day. Be sure to have the Student Architect Journal from Day 1 nearby.
During Day 3, students will learn how resilient design can keep us safe during natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. They will learn about a couple “super buildings” designed and built here in Oregon. They will also be introduced to their final camp project!
Day 3 Activity: Pick a Special Client – Students will choose a beneficial bug or bird as their special client. Throughout the rest of camp, they will design and build a habitat for their client, keeping the needs of their client in mind. Have your student follow the Day 3 Lesson and the Student Architect Journal to complete this activity.
Excited about today’s lesson? Try out the Day 3 Bonus Challenge: “Stable Skyscraper” on pages 31 and 32 of the Architect Journal.
Use this form to share your student’s work with us! bit.ly/aisSB23-shareyourwork
Day 4: Small Changes = BIG Impact!
Download the Day 4 Lesson and have your student view it digitally so they can click on the embedded web links. This document will lead them through camp activities for the day. Be sure to have the Student Architect Journal from Day 1 nearby.
During Day 4, students will learn how all the small decisions that architects and engineers make when designing a building can create a big impact. They will learn about how they, too, can make small changes to create big impact in their own communities. They will explore this idea through their final project – to design and a build a habitat for a beneficial bug or bird!
Day 4 Activity: A Special Structure for a Special Client – Students will discover and research more about their special client. They will fill out a Design Development Sheet which will act as their criteria for the design and construction of a habitat. Have your student follow the Day 4 Lesson and the Student Architect Journal to complete this activity.
Want to try another activity? Complete the Day 4 Bonus Challenge: “Your Client Biography” on pages 39 and 40 of the Architect Journal.
Use this form to share your student’s work with us! bit.ly/aisSB23-shareyourwork
Each day of camp, we offered an optional live session for students to continue learning about design, participate in an activity and connect with design professionals.
Watch the video below to participate in this live activity!
Day 5: Final Project Day
You made it to the final day of camp! Download the Day 5 Lesson and have your student view it digitally so they can click on the embedded web links. This document will lead them through camp activities for the day. Be sure to have the Student Architect Journal from Day 1 nearby.
During Day 5, students will spend most of the day constructing a habitat for their special client. They will also reflect on everything they learned throughout the camp including the importance of sustainability and how they can make small changes to create big impacts in their communities.
Day 5 Activity: Let’s Build a Habitat! – Students will construct a real habitat for their client. Get creative with the supplies you have! Gather any recycled materials, paper, and arts and craft supplies that students can use for their habitat. Have them follow the Day 5 Lesson and the Student Architect Journal to complete this activity.
Looking for one last activity to do? Check out the Day 5 Bonus Challenge: “Create a Zine!” on page 44 of the Architect Journal.
Use this form to share your student’s work with us! bit.ly/aisSB23-shareyourwork
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Questions?
Contact:
Kim Ruthardt Knowles
Associate Director, Architects in Schools
kim@af-oregon.org
503-317-7537
Candice Agahan
Education Program Manager
candice@af-oregon.org
503-542-3823