Students will enjoy replicating ancient adobe structures.
Hands-on projects can help kids connect to the curriculum they are studying. Research different types of projects and plan these activities before the school year starts so needed materials can be requested. Advance planning will save money and prevent last minute trips to the craft store.
Adobe Structures
Many history lessons can be enhanced with an adobe building project. Adobe is a mixture of clay mud and straw which is used to create bricks. Mud structures were built in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Americas thousands of years ago. People around the world---specifically Middle Eastern and African cultures---continue to build with adobe. An adobe building project may also fulfill lessons on environmentally sound housing or physical geography. For example, adobe structures have been identified as a culprit in the high number of earthquake casualties in developing countries. After an earthquake in Turkey, the Turkish Prime Minister "blamed the high level of casualties on mud-brick buildings used in the area," according to BBC News.
To build adobe structures in class, students plan the model they are going to make. Students can make a model of an entire village, or independently build a structure common in the culture they are studying. Straw, which is added to give the clay strength, is not needed for classroom building since this is a small scale project. Students can build realistic-looking models by using brown clay. A strong support, such as plywood, should be used as a base for this project.
3-D Map
A 3-D map is a fun project for students to build and helps them understand an area's physical geography. Older students can use portions of topographic maps to build models of geographically interesting features such as mountains and river valleys. Younger students can build models of larger areas---the state or country being studied---and use the opportunity to show understanding of elevations and location of physical features.
Clay is often used to build the layers of a 3-D relief map. A strong support is needed under the map. Paper mache or salt dough, which are more economical options, may also be used.
Time Capsule
Building a time capsule is an effective interdisciplinary project. Students determine the physical properties of the capsule (science); write letters (English); and make decisions about the types of items that might be of value to future cultures (social studies).
Students may build the time capsule out of wood, plastic pipe or other materials they believe will be long-lasting. Purchase materials immediately before the building phase of the project or choose the materials before starting the time capsule.
Longhouse
Many elementary students are fascinated by early American history, particularly with the lifestyle of Native Americans. The notion that all Native Americans lived in tepees can be dispelled by studying Iroquois tribes who lived in longhouses. Students will enjoy building an authentic longhouse model, which requires twigs that students can collect on a nature walk. An authentic model requires following complex directions. For this reason, teachers should break this project into short, comprehensible steps. A model will allow students to determine if they are building their own longhouses correctly.
Tags: adobe structures, adobe building, adobe building project, build models, building project, Native Americans
