Travel the world through architecture, history, art, engineering, and hands-on design.
Blueprints & Blox: A World Tour of Famous Architecture is an 18-week, project-based course for students ages 13–18 that turns some of the world's most remarkable buildings and structures into a multidisciplinary learning experience.
Instead of simply reading about architecture, students discover, discuss, design, build, and reflect. They explore famous structures and the people, cultures, ideas, engineering challenges, and historical events behind them, then put that knowledge to work through creative design and building activities.
This course integrates World History, Social Studies, Art & Design, Language Arts, Architecture, Engineering, and Applied STEM into one cohesive semester. It is ideal for homeschool families, middle and high school classrooms, co-ops, enrichment programs, micro-schools, and project-based learning environments.
Students encounter architectural achievements from different civilizations, eras, and regions of the world while developing a deeper understanding of how buildings can reveal the values, technology, resources, beliefs, and challenges of the societies that created them.
Throughout the semester, students practice research, observation, critical thinking, spatial reasoning, design, problem-solving, communication, creativity, and engineering thinking. Hands-on building challenges invite students to move beyond memorizing names and dates and begin thinking like designers and problem-solvers.
Students will:
Investigate famous architecture from around the world
Connect architecture to world history and culture
Examine architectural features, materials, form, function, and design
Explore the relationship between art, engineering, and architecture
Research and discuss the historical context surrounding important structures
Sketch, plan, and develop original designs
Complete hands-on architectural building challenges
Apply STEM and engineering concepts through construction and experimentation
Strengthen written and verbal communication
Reflect on how architecture tells the story of a civilization
Blueprints & Blox is designed for families and educators who want learning to cross traditional subject boundaries.
One architectural structure can become the doorway into history, geography, engineering, mathematics, art, culture, research, and writing. Students are encouraged to ask not only What was built? but also Why was it built? How was it possible? What does it tell us about the people who created it? And how would I approach the same challenge?
That makes this course especially useful for project-based learning, interdisciplinary studies, homeschool electives, architecture studies, STEM enrichment, world history supplements, and creative high school coursework.
Ages: 13–18
Length: 18 weeks / one semester
Subjects: Architecture, World History, Social Studies, Art & Design, Language Arts, Engineering, Applied STEM
Learning Style: Hands-on, project-based, interdisciplinary learning
Format: Facilitator Guide + Student Workbook
Learn the world's great buildings, then build them.
Travel the world through architecture, history, art, engineering, and hands-on design.
Blueprints & Blox: A World Tour of Famous Architecture is an 18-week, project-based course for students ages 13–18 that turns some of the world's most remarkable buildings and structures into a multidisciplinary learning experience.
Instead of simply reading about architecture, students discover, discuss, design, build, and reflect. They explore famous structures and the people, cultures, ideas, engineering challenges, and historical events behind them, then put that knowledge to work through creative design and building activities.
This course integrates World History, Social Studies, Art & Design, Language Arts, Architecture, Engineering, and Applied STEM into one cohesive semester. It is ideal for homeschool families, middle and high school classrooms, co-ops, enrichment programs, micro-schools, and project-based learning environments.
Students encounter architectural achievements from different civilizations, eras, and regions of the world while developing a deeper understanding of how buildings can reveal the values, technology, resources, beliefs, and challenges of the societies that created them.
Throughout the semester, students practice research, observation, critical thinking, spatial reasoning, design, problem-solving, communication, creativity, and engineering thinking. Hands-on building challenges invite students to move beyond memorizing names and dates and begin thinking like designers and problem-solvers.
Students will:
Investigate famous architecture from around the world
Connect architecture to world history and culture
Examine architectural features, materials, form, function, and design
Explore the relationship between art, engineering, and architecture
Research and discuss the historical context surrounding important structures
Sketch, plan, and develop original designs
Complete hands-on architectural building challenges
Apply STEM and engineering concepts through construction and experimentation
Strengthen written and verbal communication
Reflect on how architecture tells the story of a civilization
Blueprints & Blox is designed for families and educators who want learning to cross traditional subject boundaries.
One architectural structure can become the doorway into history, geography, engineering, mathematics, art, culture, research, and writing. Students are encouraged to ask not only What was built? but also Why was it built? How was it possible? What does it tell us about the people who created it? And how would I approach the same challenge?
That makes this course especially useful for project-based learning, interdisciplinary studies, homeschool electives, architecture studies, STEM enrichment, world history supplements, and creative high school coursework.
Ages: 13–18
Length: 18 weeks / one semester
Subjects: Architecture, World History, Social Studies, Art & Design, Language Arts, Engineering, Applied STEM
Learning Style: Hands-on, project-based, interdisciplinary learning
Format: Facilitator Guide + Student Workbook
Learn the world's great buildings, then build them.
