Topics We Explore
Young people explore a wide-range of engaging topics in ArchForKids programs, from skyscrapers to castles to alien homes. Most programs can be adapted for all ages and grades. They are appropriate for schools as well as more informal settings, such as libraries, afterschool programs and museums. Workshops can also be adapted for virtual programming – via the Zoom platforms so we can interact with participants.
Participants can investigate these topics in stand-alone workshops or in an in-depth series. Programs that require a series are noted below.
In addition, ArchForKids educators can develop new workshops based on your needs, interests and curriculum.
Note: topics are listed more than once if they fall under two or more categories
Architecture & Design
Adventures in Architecture (series): A fun introduction to the tools and strategies of architects. A wide variety of building projects, from bridges to towers to dream houses.
Castles – Homes & Fortresses: Learn about the architecture of castles and find out how people lived and worked in these fascinating structures. Then build your own mini castle!
City Pier Re-Do: Take an old pier and transform it into an urban farm, a pocket park, a waterfront restaurant – it’s up to you!
Design, Build, Sit! Chair Masters Design Studio (series): Participants design and construct life-size chairs — out of cardboard — capable of supporting their weight.
Dragon Dens, Fairy Cottages & Troll Bridges: Create a shelter for a fantasy character of your choice.
Dream House: Design a home or apartment that reflects your interests and lifestyle.
Evolution of New York City (series): Learn how shelters evolved from Native American dwellings to present-day skyscrapers. Create a 3D timeline featuring structures of different eras.
Collage a Facade: Learn about shapes, proportion and architectural elements. Make a beautiful collage of a building’s front view (facade).
Houses from Around the World (series): Learn about how people live around the world. Build 3D models or 2D facades of vernacular architecture.
Houseboats on Hudson: Transform a milk carton or box into a fabulous home on the water.
How Does Your Garden Grow? Learn about architectural framing, shapes and stability as you construct a tabletop greenhouse.
A Room of One’s Own: Transform a shoe or cereal box into your ideal bedroom.
Make a Fort: Design a mighty fortress and populate it with your action figures.
Make a Museum: Design your own museum, possibly to showcase your collection of beanie babies, action figures, video games etc.
Map It! (series): Construct scaled models of the iconic buildings and structures of Washington DC. Then place the models on a huge floor map. Perfect to prepare middle school students for a field trip to the US capital. Can also be adapted to New York City.
Pirate Ship Design: Design and build your own pirate ship using a recycled milk carton or box.
Scraping the Sky: Design and build your own tall tower. Learn about the forces that make skyscrapers “stand up”.
Skyline Collage: If you designed a skyline, what would it look like? What does your collage say about the city?
Super Sports: Design a stadium or facility for YOUR favorite sport – soccer, baseball, tennis, skateboarding and more.
Superhero Homes & Headquarters: What kind of superhero could your community use? Design his/her home taking into account the superhero’s powers and purpose.
Tiny Living: Learn about the tiny home movement and design your own small living space.
Tree Houses – Up Up & Away: Create an amazing play space in the branches.
Space Habitats, Moon Mansions, Space Rovers and Alien Homes are just some of our popular intergalactic workshops.
Community Studies
All Around My Community (series): Explore the neighborhood with an I Spy architectural walk. Learn the elements that comprise a community. Re-create the facades of local buildings. Finally, construct 3D models of town structures and put them all together to make a community!
NYC Immigration (series): Investigate the waves of immigration to the city’s Lower East Side from the 19th through early 20th centuries. Explore how these new arrivals transformed the city’s built and social environments. Create models of Ellis Island and tenements, temples, churches, storefronts, pubs and other notable structures.
Live Green! Make a Sustainable Village: Construct an entire village designed to live in harmony with the earth. Include renewable energy sources, native materials, walking & bike paths, green spaces, and more.
Solutions for Homelessness: Design homes and transitional shelters for formerly homeless families and individuals. Take into account access to jobs, transit, childcare and more.
Vacant Lot Challenge: Design a structure that would benefit your community – a recreation center, a new shop, housing, etc. Or transform the lot into a green space for your neighborhood!
Future City: It is the year 2040 — what will your community look like? Work together to create a wildly imaginative futuristic and livable city.
Superhero Homes & Headquarters: What kind of superhero could your community use? Design his/her home taking into account the superhero’s powers and purpose.
Green Design & Sustainability
Green Skyscraper Challenge: Sustainable towers are on the rise! Construct your own model eco-tower.
Sustainable House & Yard: Harness the energy of the sun, wind, water and earth to power your shelter.
Live Green! Make a Sustainable Village: Design and construct an entire village designed to live in harmony with the earth.
Literacy
Going Beyond the Words: Construct a scene from a favorite book/story. Perfect for summer reading programs or to enrich a book read in class.
Math Enrichment
Bridges – From Here to There: Explore the many different types of bridges in your community and build scaled models of these amazing structures.
Map It! (series): Construct scaled models of the iconic buildings and structures of NYC or Washington DC. Then place the models on a large floor map.
Scraping the Sky: Design and build your own tall tower, Learn about the forces that make skyscrapers “stand up”.
Structural Engineering
Bridges – From Here to There: Explore the many different types of bridges – from cable bridges to movable bridges. Build working models of these amazing structures.
How Does Your Garden Grow? Learn about framing, shapes and stability in architecture as you make a tabletop greenhouse. Then grow plants in your greenhouse.
Let’s Make an Arch! Construct and decorate an arch bridge. Learn what makes these bridges, which date from ancient times, so strong and stable.
Scraping the Sky: Design and build your own tall tower. Explore the math – and forces – involved in their design and construction.
Super Slides: Design, build and test a mini roller coaster for marbles to ride on.
Catapults: Simple machines power catapults. Build your own and test it with target practice!
Outer Space & Video Games
Minecraft Mania: Calling all Minecraft fans – build your favorite Minecraft character – or create your own!
Pokemon Homes: design a structure suitable for your favorite Pokemon character.
Space Habitats, Moon Mansions, Space Rovers and Alien Homes are just some of our popular intergalactic workshops.
Animal Architecture
Animal Sanctuaries: Design a wildlife refuge or zoo with spaces to make our animal friends healthy and happy.
Creature Comforts – Animal Habitats: Explore how animals make their homes as you re-create their habitats.
Dino Domains: Make the appropriate habitat for a dinosaur – from a flying Pterodactyl, to the ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex, to a giant Sauropod.
Landscape Architecture & Urban Design
Teen Island: An local island has been designated as a recreational/education space just for teens. Design its elements and landscaping.
Playground Design: Create your ideal playground or adventure park. Understand the simple machines behind the equipment.
Design a Waterfront Park: Design a park for a shoreline, adding landscaping, pathways, a playground, concessions and other amenities.
Vacant Lot Challenge: Propose a structure that would benefit your community – a recreation center, a new shop, etc. Or transform the lot into a new neighborhood green space!
Live Green! Make a Sustainable Village: Build an entire village that lives in harmony with the earth’s environment.
Future City: It is the year 2040, 20 years in the future — what does your city look like? Work together to create wildly imaginative futuristic city.
Appropriate for Very Young Designers & Street Fairs
The Big Build: Free form building out of large cardboard boxes. And you can knock down your structure too!
Collage a Facade: Explore the distinctive structures of your community and learn basic architectural elements. Re-create their fronts (facades) using shapes, colors and collage techniques.
Paper Bag Play Houses: Transform a lunch bag into a beautiful home and yard.
