5 Week Architecture STEAM Unit

This is a 5-week unit that involves all aspects of STEAM (Science, technology,
engineering, art, and math) and is a great example of a crossdisciplinary unit. This unit
also pulls in aspects of the community with murals, community gardens, making a
movie about the town, etc. This unit builds lifelong skills and provides a sense of
connectedness between subjects.

Week 1: Science
Animal Architecture (Habitats)
● Beaver dams
● Nests
● Burrows

Week 2: Technology
● Movie Making (History of town, tour of the town, etc.)
● Slideshow (Historical Landmarks)

Week 3: Engineering
● 3d puzzles
● Legos
● marshmallow/toothpick bridge

Week 4: Art
● Making drawings
● Community Garden or a Mural
● Stained Glass

Week 5: Math
● Measurement
● Shapes
● Floor Plans
Week 1: Science

Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5:

DIY Birdnests What can Where do Sustainability Finish up
animals build? animals live? sustainability

Collect Materials Presentation Presentation Architecture’s -white roofs

to make a birds and discussion and Discussion effects on the -reusing
nest (sticks, (virtual tour) Environment rainwater
grass, leaves, Teach this one? -Allow for a Q+A
etc.) with extra time

Week 2: Technology

Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5:

Historical Historical Architecture in Architecture in Architecture in
Landmarks Landmarks town town town

Presentation Presentations Field Trip to Movie Making Movie Making

Assignment about town Assignment Assignment
Work Day Historical Work Day Work Day
Landmarks (those who are
finished can
present)

Week 3: Engineering

Day 1: Day 2: Architect Day 3: Day 4: Eiffel Day 5: Eiffel

Presentations vs Engineer Marshmallow Tower Tower
Toothpick Bridge

Wrap up any Discuss the Construct a Students will Creating the

presentations differences and bridge made out design how they tower
that didn’t get similarities of toothpicks want to build the
finished and tower
marshmallows
Week 4: Art

Day 1: Drawing Day 2: Clay Day 3: Clay Day 4: Clay Day 5: Clay
Building Building Building Building

Drawings of Making a Making a Painting the clay Finishing

different kinds of building out of building out of building touches and
buildings clay clay putting together
the buildings to
make a city

Week 5: Math

Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5:

Design Home Measuring Perimeter and Area and Presentations
Area perimeter

Have students Introduction to Learning About Learning about Students will

play the measurement Perimeter and area and present the
DesignHome area perimeter spaces they
game. They will Using a ruler created. They
need to stay on and tape will show which
budget to create measure one scored the
the most best, the worst,
functional and their
interior space for favorite.
the challenge.