Sign up for regular updates

Architecture Week for Schools:

Investigate!

Classroom activity
Key Stage: 1 & 2
Materials: Pencil/pen, something to lean on, KS1 workframes (supplied), KS1 teaching aid illustrations (supplied), KS2 worksheet (supplied)
investigate image
click to print this page print this activity download word document download word format download pdf download pdf format
space
Activity summary:
  • To provide an activity where pupils investigate and become more aware of their classroom environment
  • To allow pupils to use their findings to compile and handle data
  • To identify the properties of familiar objects and spaces
  • To initiate a range of responses within an investigation
  • Links can be made with National Curriculum schemes of work:
    Art: A sense of place (Unit 6C)
    Geography: Around our school - the local area - How and where do we spend our time? (Units 1, 19)
    Science: Characteristics of and using materials (Unit 1C, 3C)
  • Extension tasks:
    Numeracy & IT: Handling data - tally, assemble and analyse the data using graphs
    Art: Draw the features that make up the environment - Consider alternative environments and their features: bedroom, shop, place of worship
    D&T: make a scale model/plan of the environment
space
KS1 Lesson Plan: Investigate the classroom
1. Introduce the classroom
The classroom is a familiar environment. Identify its main features: doors, walls, windows, furniture, objects.
space
2. Introduce the worksheet
Relate the classroom features to colour & shape - go to workframe 1
Relate the classroom features to materials & shape - go to workframe 2
Demonstrate how these findings can be recorded on the workframes using words and/or drawings
space
3. The activity
Ask pupils to look and record their findings on the workframes.
Refer to illustrations of sample finding to aid learning.
Go to teaching aid.
4. Evaluate findings
Tally and assemble data into a graph.
space
Recommendations:
  • Use the teaching aid illustrations for pupils needing learning support
  • Ask pupils to draw as well as write their response
  • Colour in drawn responses
space
KS2 Lesson Plan: Investigate the classroom
1. Introduce the classroom/school
The classroom/hall/school is a familiar environment.
Identify its main features: doors, walls, windows, objects
Relate features to colour and shape: the rectangular red door
Identify its uses: aid learning, eating lunch, enclose a space
space
2. Introduce the worksheet
Demonstrate how these findings can be recorded on the worksheet - go to KS2 Worksheet
space
3. The activity
Ask pupils to look for and record their findings on the worksheet, including as much detail as they can.
4. Evaluate findings
Tally and assemble data into a graph.
space
Recommendations:
  • Restrict activity to a specific area and within a timeframe
KS2 Investigate! Worksheet
  • What shapes can you see? List as many different ones you can.
  • What colours can you see? List as many different ones you can.
  • How many apertures can you count? List them all.
  • What types of material is this environment made of? List them all.
  • Identify something rough, smooth, soft, hard, opaque and transparent? List them all.
  • What is this environment used for? List all the uses.
  • Which is your favourite part of this environment? Describe why.
  • What would you change about this environment to improve it? Describe your ideas.
  • Have you noticed anything for the first time while doing this investigation?

Quicklinks

Resources

All activities

Feedback

"The children thoroughly enjoyed the project and got so much out of it. It fulfilled aspects of the D&T curriculum and there were lots of opportunities for cross-curricular links. The children loved working as a team and had to collaborate at every stage of the process."

Year 5 Teacher
BUILD A STRUCTURE