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Architecture Week for Schools:

Treasure Hunt

Playground activity
Key Stage: 1 & 2
Materials: Photographs of details of the playground, worksheet (supplied), something to lean on, pencil, wax crayon, paper
illustrative image of activity
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Activity summary:
  • Each member of the class is given a photograph of a detail in the playground
  • The activity involves seeking and finding the detail (the treasure)
  • Links can be made with National Curriculum schemes of work:
    Geography: Around Our School (Unit 1)
    Art: A Sense of Place (Unit 6c)
  • Extension tasks:
    Art: Make a drawing, a rubbing and
    Art & Geography: notice and identify characteristics relating to place
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Lesson Plan:
1. Being observant
Playgrounds are familiar places. They are made up of many details: surfaces, textures, shapes, patterns, details, forms, colours, smells, and sounds.Ask a series of questions to discover how aware the children are currently of their playground environment e.g. What colour is the litter bin by the water fountain?
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2. Find the photographs
Give each child a photograph to find.
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3. Demonstrate using the worksheet
The suggested questions are intended to provoke an enquiry into the section of the playground they have found.
4. Demonstrate making a rubbing
Place a sheet of paper over the surface. Using the flat side of a piece of wax crayon rub gently and consistently over the paper to reveal the texture.
Extension: add ink/paint washes or make a plasticine cast.
5. Share findings
Each child could present their findings. Evaluate what they have noticed about their familiar environment that they hadn't noticed before.
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Recommendations:
  • Details could be of architectural structures, surfaces, playground markings, or foliage.
  • Including an easily identifiable element will save time if including the extension activities.
  • It was found that shooting and the cost of a roll of 35mm film with a disposable camera and processing was preferred and more cost efficient than using a digital camera when printing out involves time and print cartridges.
Treasure Hunt Worksheet
  • Where is your treasure? Describe its location in the playground.
  • Of what materials is your treasure made of? List them all.
  • What does the surface feel like? Describe the different textures.
  • What colours can you see? List them all.
  • What shapes can you see? List them all.
  • What is this part of the playground used for? Describe.
  • What associations do you have with this part of the playground? Describe.
  • What can you hear in the playground? List all the different sounds.
  • What can you smell in the playground? List all the different smells.
  • Which is your favourite part of the playground? Describe why.
  • What would you change about the playground to improve it? Describe your ideas.

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"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
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