This art history video discussion examines Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's "Seagram Building", 375 Park Avenue, New York City (1958). Note: In the video I call Le Corbusier a French architect. This is somewhat reductionist since he was born in Swizerland and became a French citizen in 1930.

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

An extensive site that includes an interactive timeline of Greek art. Clicking on hyperlinks take you to a detailed discussion of the individual works of art. Included are photographs of Greek architecture. A great resource for the study of Greek art.

This educational resource from the Metropolitan Museum of Art describes numerous pieces of Roman art with images and lesson plans included.

This art history video discussion examines Francesco di Giorgio Martini's (attributed), Architectural Veduta, c. 1490, oil on poplar (Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin).

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

Students investigate the materials properties such as acoustical absorptivity, light reflectivity, thermal conductivity, hardness, and water resistance of various materials. They use sound, light and temperature sensors to collect data on various materials. They practice making design decisions about what materials would be best to use for specific purposes and projects, such as designing houses in certain environments to meet client requirements. After testing, they use the provided/tested materials to design and build model houses to meet client specifications.

Zooming In On Figures

Unit Overview

Type of Unit: Concept; Project

Length of Unit: 18 days and 5 days for project

Prior Knowledge

Students should be able to:

Find the area of triangles and special quadrilaterals.
Use nets composed of triangles and rectangles in order to find the surface area of solids.
Find the volume of right rectangular prisms.
Solve proportions.

Lesson Flow

After an initial exploratory lesson that gets students thinking in general about geometry and its application in real-world contexts, the unit is divided into two concept development sections: the first focuses on two-dimensional (2-D) figures and measures, and the second looks at three-dimensional (3-D) figures and measures.
The first set of conceptual lessons looks at 2-D figures and area and length calculations. Students explore finding the area of polygons by deconstructing them into known figures. This exploration will lead to looking at regular polygons and deriving a general formula. The general formula for polygons leads to the formula for the area of a circle. Students will also investigate the ratio of circumference to diameter ( pi ). All of this will be applied toward looking at scale and the way that length and area are affected. All the lessons noted above will feature examples of real-world contexts.
The second set of conceptual development lessons focuses on 3-D figures and surface area and volume calculations. Students will revisit nets to arrive at a general formula for finding the surface area of any right prism. Students will extend their knowledge of area of polygons to surface area calculations as well as a general formula for the volume of any right prism. Students will explore the 3-D surface that results from a plane slicing through a rectangular prism or pyramid. Students will also explore 3-D figures composed of cubes, finding the surface area and volume by looking at 3-D views.
The unit ends with a unit examination and project presentations.

Students are introduced to real-world applications of geometry and measurement by looking at architectural plans. Students also begin to get familiar with reading architectural plans and thinking about scale.Key ConceptsSince this lesson is exploratory, all of the mathematics discussed will be informal. However, most of the mathematics that students will see in the unit is introduced in this lesson. Students look at length, area, surface area, and volume and examine how these measurements pertain to architectural plans and determining building costs. Students will also consider scale and how scale is used in architectural plans and math drawings.GoalsThink about what measurements are needed to build a building.Think about what measurements determine the cost of a building.Think about how scale is used in math drawings.SWD: Check in to ensure that students understand the meaning of domain-specific vocabulary terms such as dimensions, scale, and area. You may also need to clarify the meaning of the word contract for some students.ELL: Consider having students compile a list or resource with key vocabulary terms for this unit.

This video segment from New York Voices features Chinese American architect Maya Lin.

This art history video discussion examines Michelangelo's "Laurentian Library" (vestibule and reading room), begun 1524, opened 1571, San Lorenzo, Florence.

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

This art history video discussion examines Michelangelo's "The Slaves" (commonly referred to as the Dying Slave and the Rebellious Slave), marble, 2.09 m high, 1513-15 (Musee du Louvre, Paris).

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

A fabulous resource for students and teachers interested in African art! Click any of the icons to search for a specific artifact, or just browse their collection.

The lesson begins by introducing Olympics as the unit theme. The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the techniques of engineering problem solving. Specific techniques covered in the lesson include brainstorming and the engineering design process. The importance of thinking out of the box is also stressed to show that while some tasks seem impossible, they can be done. This introduction includes a discussion of the engineering required to build grand, often complex, Olympic event centers.

This art history video dicussion examines "Orsanmichele", Florence, 1349 loggia (1380-1404 upper stories).

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

This passage from William Morey's 1901 textbook tells about Trajan, one of Rome's greatest rulers. Included is a chart showing all the Roman provinces and the dates they were acquired.

A great website specifically about the history behind the Taj Majal. (Has audio cuts that can be heard by downloading RealAudio.) Also has a wonderful timeline that chronicles The Mughal Dynasty. Be sure to check out the "education" link on the left side. You'll find lesson plans that go along with this site.

This art history video discussion looks at Saint Peter's Basilica and the numerous architects (see below) who contributed to Saint Peter's Basilica (Basilica Sancti Petri in Latin), begun 1506 completed 1626, Vatican City. Architectural contributors include: Donato Bramante who's design won Julius II's competition; Antonio da Sangallo, a student of Bramante, designed the Pauline Chapel; Fra Giocondo strengthened the foundation; Raphael worked with Fra Giocondo, his redesigned building plan was not executed; Michelangelo designed the dome, crossing, and exterior excluding the nave and facade; Giacomo della Porta, designed the cupola; Carlo Maderno, extended Michelangelo's plan adding a nave and grand facade; Gian Lorenzo Bernini added the piazza, the Cathedra Petri, and the Baldacchino.

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

This art history video discussion looks at Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 5th century A.D.

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

Students read informational texts about the seven continents, and what makes each of them unique, while working to understand text features and develop skills in writing about informational texts.

Students are introduced to brainstorming and the design process in problem solving as it relates to engineering. They perform an activity to develop and understand problem solving with an emphasis on learning from history. Using only paper, straws, tape and paper clips, they create structures that can support the weight of at least one textbook. In their first attempts to build the structures, they build whatever comes to mind. For the second trial, they examine examples of successful buildings from history and try again.