Course Title: Architectural Drafting I
Session Title: Nature of Materials 1: building a structure from paper
“When you are designing in brick, you must ask a brick what it wants or what it can do.”
Louis I. Kahn
International Design Conference at Aspen
June 19, 1972
Performance Objective:
Students will design a series of structures that will allow them to explore the nature of different materials. Upon completion of this assignment, students will be able to discern the inherent structural characteristics of a planar material such as paper.
Specific Objectives:
•
Describe planar materials
•
Understand the nature of a planar material and demonstrate effective use of that material
•
Build a structure using a planar material (paper)
•
Effectively work in a team situation
•
Evaluate the capabilities of a material by analyzing different configurations
•
Design a structure that maximizes use of a finite amount of material
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the activities may result in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
•
130.47 (a)(b) complete general requirements and demonstrate knowledge and skills specific to those needed to enter a career in architecture and construction;
•
130.47 (c) demonstrate knowledge and skills of advanced architectural design principles;
•
130.47 (1)(a)(c)(d)(e) demonstrate knowledge of employability characteristics, opportunities and expectations, applying competencies and demonstrating knowledge of workplace health and safety;
•
130.47 (2)(d) demonstrate knowledge of reading and interpreting architectural symbols, schematics, blueprints, work drawings, manuals and bulletins;
•
130.47 (3)(a)(c) demonstrate knowledge of architectural design principles and various grades/types of construction materials;
•
130.47 (4)(a)(c) demonstrate knowledge of tool/material/equipment safety and of new/emerging technologies;
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the
Architectural Drafting I: Building A Structure From Paper Plan
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activities may result in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
110.31 (a)(1)
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demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and oral/written conventions
110.31 (b)(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)
•
demonstrate knowledge of vocabulary, technical academic English derived from Latin/Greek roots, determining denotative/connotative meanings of words, analogies, understanding of frequently used foreign words and use of an electronic or printed dictionary, glossary or thesaurus.
Instructor/Trainer
References
Instructional Aids:
Project evaluation: “Paper structure GRADE SHEET”
Materials Needed:
8 ½” x 11” paper, drafting tape, scissors, #2 pencils
Equipment Needed: none
Learner
None.
Introduction
Introduction (LSI Quadrant I):
Instructor asks the following question: “How can I elevate this pencil in the air with this single sheet of 8 ½” x 11” paper? Students will respond by describing how one could roll the paper and create a tube, and then place the pencil on top of the tube.
Using this logic, the instructor then challenges students with the following question: working in teams of 2, how high do you think you can raise the pencil above the table top, using only (3) sheets of paper and drafting tape?
Outline
Outline (LSI Quadrant II):
Introduction to Nature of Materials
1. Planar materials
A. Define planar materials and give examples (paper, plywood, plate steel)
B. Description of the inherent nature of planar materials
(demonstration with paper)
C. Structural capabilities of a material when manipulated (rolled, laminated, etc.)
(demonstration with paper, rolled)
2. Economy, and maximum strength from minimum material
Application
Architectural Drafting I: Building A Structure From Paper Plan
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Guided Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
1. Teacher demonstrates manipulating paper into a “wave” to hold pencil 8 ½” above table
(paper is oriented horizontally)
2. Teacher asks students to do the same exercise but raise pencil 11” above table (paper is oriented vertically)
Independent Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
Students work collaboratively, in pairs, to brainstorm ideas and then assemble a structure using only (3) pieces of 8 ½” x 11” paper. Students are encouraged to experiment with different configurations of the paper with the goal of supporting a pencil as high above the table top as possible.
Note: when placing the pencil on their structures, some teams might wish to orient the pencil vertically to add additional height to their structures. Ingenuity of this type should be encouraged, but brings up the issue of how to keep from divulging design tactics. Of course, this is an age old problem epitomized in the design of the spire on the Chrysler Building, in New
York. One way to give students a sense of privacy, would be to give each team a sheet of cardboard to create a “privacy screen” that they could fold in half and place on the table like an open book.
Summary
Review (LSI Quadrants I and IV):
Teacher will restate the objective of project, which is to understand the nature of a planar material and design a structure that maximizes a finite amount of a given material. Then, as a group, go to each structure and:
measure the height of the pencil above the table
discuss the strategy the team used in their design
discuss the strengths of the scheme
discuss the weaknesses of the scheme
discuss what could be done to achieve an even better result (compare to other schemes)
Evaluation
Informal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III):
Monitor team progress during independent practice and evaluate teamwork employed, ideas and strategies, execution of idea.
Formal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III, IV):
Students are to write a (3) paragraph paper describing one fact that they learned about the nature of the material (paper) and two strategies they observed that demonstrated an effective use of that material. Each strategy should be supplemented with a diagram. Students are then asked to apply their knowledge to answer a larger question relating to the use of planar materials in the real world. Students are to give an example of a real world product or container that utilizes paper or cardboard. Describe the design and how it works. Examples might include, an egg carton, a milk carton like the ones used in school cafeterias, a UPS box, etc.
Extension/Enrichment (LSI Quadrant IV):
Architectural Drafting I: Building A Structure From Paper Plan
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Criteria
Teamwork
Idea/Strategy
Execution/
Craftsmanship
Exceptional
25-21
Team members collaborate, engage in positive, supportive discussion, and involve all team members
Design solution demonstrates a exceptional level of creativity and ingenuity
Structure is free from stray marks and smudges, tears, wrinkles, creases, and frayed edges
Above
Average
20-16
Team members collaborate, engage in positive, supportive discussion, and/or involve all team members
Design solution demonstrates an above average level of creativity and ingenuity
Structure has few stray marks and smudges, tears, wrinkles, creases, and frayed edges
Average
15-11
Team members collaborate, engage in positive, supportive discussion, or involve all team members
Design solution demonstrates an average level of creativity and ingenuity
Structure has some stray marks and smudges, tears, wrinkles, creases, and frayed edges
Below
Average
10-1
One member dominates the group
Design solution demonstrates a low level of creativity and ingenuity
Structure has a lot of stray marks and smudges, tears, wrinkles, creases, and frayed edges
Design
Challenge – height of pencil above table top
1 st
place 2 nd
place All others
Unacceptable Comments
0
Team is not functional
No creativity or ingenuity
Structure has too many marks and smudges, tears, wrinkles, creases, and/or frayed edges
Architectural Drafting I: Nature of Materials – Paper Structure Rubric
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