Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater Observation
Christine R. Hoffert
Ridgeview Elementary, Colfax, IL
Summer 2006
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division,
Historic American Buildings
Survey or Historic American Engineering Record,
Reproduction Number (HABS, PA, 26 – OHPY.V, 1-4)
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater appears to grow out of the surrounding rocky
cliff, and it has been voted the most imaginative all-timework in American architecture.
A stream and waterfall run just below this site, and the house would have to be attached
to cliff ledges. This type of engineering was considered to be radical by 1930’s
standards, but Wright never designed anything that could not actually be built. He made
the cantilevers of reinforced concrete that were held up by stone and concrete supports.
Wright’s client, Edgar J. Kaufmann, called him one day. Kaufmann said he and
his family were near by, and could they come see the plans Wright had been working on
for what was supposed to have been months. Knowing he had not even started the plans,
Frank said he would love to see his clients. He got out his drafting supplies and finished
the sketches in three minutes. When the Kaufmann family knocked on the door, Wright
said come in, I have been waiting.
With this in mind, students will navigate through primary sources to investigate,
analyze and make a PowerPoint presentation on three separate photographs of
Fallingwater.
Overview/ Materials/LOC Resources/Standards/ Procedures/Evaluation/Rubric/Handouts/Extension
Overview
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Objectives
Students will:
 identify how Frank Lloyd Wright incorporates
nature into the design of Fallingwater.
 combine primary source photographs of
Fallingwater and text to make three PowerPoint
slides.
Recommended time frame
(4-5) 44 minute time periods (depending on computer
availability, class time frame and size.)
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
Grade level
Curriculum fit
Materials
8th
Fine Arts, Visual Arts
 Pencil, eraser
 Analysis worksheet
 Computer with internet and PowerPoint
 Frank Lloyd Wright website used for research:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(DOCID+@lit(PA16
90))
For the extension:
 Pencil, eraser, utility knife, cutting board,
 9”x12”drawing paper, 9”x12” black construction
paper, tissue paper,
 clear lamination pieces,
 white glue
 computer website:
o http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(DOCID+@li
t(PA1690)),
 photograph of Fallingwater.
Illinois State Learning Standards
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Fine Arts:
GOAL 25: Know the language of the arts.

STUDENT LANGUAGE: I can talk about the arts.
 25 B. Understand the similarities, distinctions and
connections in and among the arts.

STUDENT LANGUAGE: I can tell what is the same and what
is different about two or more works of dance, drama, music
and visual art.
GOAL 26: Through creating and performing,
understand how works of art are produced.

STUDENT LANGUAGE: I can talk about the arts.

26 A. Understand processes, traditional tools and
modern technologies used in the arts.
 STUDENT LANGUAGE: I can tell how the choice of tools and
how they are used affect a work of
dance, drama, music, or visual art.

26 B. Apply skills and knowledge necessary to
create and perform in one or more of the arts.
 STUDENT LANGUAGE: I can use my skills to create and
perform dance, drama, music and
visual arts.
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Illinois State University
Procedures
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Day One:
 Students will divide into groups of two. (The
purpose of dividing into groups is to save time.
Each group member will assist one another with the
worksheet)
 Both students will go to this website:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(DOCID+@lit(PA16
90))
 Students will need to click on the old camera icon
that says: 84 b/w photos.
 Once this is open, view images of Fallingwater.
 Student one will view and investigate three interior
photographs of Fallingwater to describe how nature
is incorporated into the design. He/she will also
include three more observations about each interior
photograph. All answers will be written onto the
worksheet.
 Student 2 will assist. Now student two will view
and investigate three exterior photographs of
Fallingwater to describe how nature is incorporated
into the design. He/she will also include three more
observations about each exterior photograph. All
answers will be written onto the worksheet. Student
one will assist.
Day Two and Three:
 Each student will make three PowerPoint slides.
Each slide will include only one image. Use the
same three photos discussed on Day 1 worksheet.
 Open the pre-made PowerPoint template by
clicking on either Interior PowerPoint or Exterior
PowerPoint (depending on which side of the
worksheet you filled out on Day 1).
 Now go to this website: http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(DOCID+@lit(PA16
90))
 To add a photograph to a slide, right click on the
photograph, click on copy, open slide, and then edit
paste.
 Drag and make photograph bigger for easier
viewing, but not so big there is no room for text.
 Under each image, make a citation for each chosen
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Illinois State University
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photograph. To do this, go back to the website and
open the page with chosen photograph. Go to the
Repository line, highlight it, right click, copy.
Open PowerPoint slide and edit paste. Go back to
the website again. Now go to the actual photograph.
Underneath of the photograph, there will be a
description with a slide number. (ex: HABS PA,
26-OHPY.V, 1-3) You will need to add the
appropriate slide number to your citation by
highlighting it, right clicking, copying.
Open up your PowerPoint slide again, and edit
paste.
Now type the necessary text describing how Frank
Lloyd Wright incorporated nature into the design, as
well as three extra observations about each
photograph.
Each slide must have an appealing layout with
aesthetically pleasing color choices. You may
change the existing color choices if you want to.
To change the background colors: go to format,
background, click on the color box, and then more
colors and/or fill effects.
You can also change the lettering styles if you want
to. Highlight your text; go to format, font, change
then font.
Once you are finished with your first slide you need
to save it.
Go to file, save as, and title the slide using your
name, with #1 behind it. Slide two will be the same;
however, you will put #2 at the end of your name.
Slide three will be the same; however, you will put
#3 at the end of your name.
Day Four:
 Each group of students will be responsible for
participating in a short presentation to the class.
They will describe each slide, and discuss why they
have chosen their particular photographs.
Evaluation
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Students will be evaluated on their PowerPoint slides
and presentation using the following rubric.
Extension
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An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
Optional Activity:
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Have each student choose one photograph from this
website: http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/hh:@field(DOCID+@lit(PA16
90))
Once they have chosen a photograph to use, each
student will design an abstracted, symmetrical motif
using their photograph and a pencil on drawing
paper.
Now each student will fold a black piece of
construction paper into half. They will also fold
their motif in half. Now they will need to re-draw
their motif onto the black construction paper. Once
this is done, they will cut out all of the negative
spaces with a utility knife and a cutting board.
Once all of the negative spaces are cut out, students
will cut three different colors of tissue paper pieces,
including some clear lamination pieces. The tissue
paper/lamination pieces should be a little bit larger
than the negative spaces on their motif. (One piece
of tissue paper for each negative space)
Glue tissue paper/lamination pieces to the back of
the black construction paper motif. Make sure
colors are symmetrical before gluing them down.
Hang stained glass windows and enjoy their beauty.
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
Primary Resources from the Library of Congress
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Image/Resource
Website with Frank
Lloyd Wright
collection of
Fallingwater
photographs:
Historic American
Buildings
Survey/Historic
American
Engineering
Record.
Description
Access website and
then click on the old
camera icon:
This will bring you to
84 b/w photographs of
Falllingwater.
Citation
Library of Congress,
Prints and Photographs
Division, Historic
American Buildings
Survey or Historic
American Engineering
Record, Reproduction
Number (HABS PA,26 –
OHPY.V1)
URL
http://memory.loc.gov/
cgibin/query/r?ammem/h
h:@field(DOCID+@li
t(PA1690))
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
Rubric
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Analysis of a Work of Architecture: Frank Lloyd
Wright's Fallingwater
Teacher Name: Mrs. Hoffert
Student Name:
________________________________________
CATEGORY 4
3
2
1
Description Makes a complete and
Makes a detailed description
about most of the use of
nature in Frank Lloyd
Wright's photographs #1-3.
Makes a detailed description
about some of the use of
nature in Frank Lloyd
Wright's photographs #1-3.
Descriptions
of Frank
Lloyd
Wright's
photographs
#1-3 are not
detailed or
complete.
detailed description about
how Frank Lloyd Wright
uses nature in photographs
#1-3.
Analysis
Accurately describes several
dominant elements or
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how
they are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme,
meaning, mood, or feeling of
photograph #1.
Accurately describes three
dominant elements and
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how
these are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme,
meaning, mood, or feeling of
photograph #1.
Describes less than three
dominant elements and
principles used by the artist,
but has difficulty describing
how these relate to the
meaning or feeling of
photograph #1.
Has trouble
picking out
the
dominant
elements of
photograph
#1.
Analysis
Accurately describes several
dominant elements or
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how
they are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme,
meaning, mood, or feeling of
photograph #2.
Accurately describes three
dominant elements and
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how
these are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme,
meaning, mood, or feeling of
photograph #2.
Describes less than three
dominant elements and
principles used by the artist,
but has difficulty describing
how these relate to the
meaning or feeling of
photograph #2.
Has trouble
picking out
the
dominant
elements of
photograph
#2.
Analysis
Accurately describes several
dominant elements or
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how
they are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme,
meaning, mood, or feeling of
photograph #3.
Accurately describes three
dominant elements and
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how
these are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme,
meaning, mood, or feeling of
photograph #3.
Describes less than three
dominant elements and
principles used by the artist,
but has difficulty describing
how these relate to the
meaning or feeling of
photograph #3.
Has trouble
picking out
the
dominant
elements of
photograph
#3.
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Illinois State University
Handouts
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Frank Lloyd Wright Investigation Worksheet
Partner #1______________________
___________
Describing the Interior of Fallingwater


Describe how Frank Lloyd Wright incorporated
nature into each photograph.
You will also need to discuss three other
observations about each photograph.
Partner #2 __________________-
Describing the Exterior of Fallingwater


Describe how Frank Lloyd Wright incorporated
nature into each photograph.
You will also need to discuss three other
observations about each photograph.
Photograph #1
Photograph #1
Photograph #2
Photograph #2
Photograph #3
Photograph #3
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University
An Adventure of the American Mind
Illinois State University