Architecture with Ms. Berk

We begin the week looking at photographs and a video of Greek temples. Students explore features of Greek architecture, including three types of columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian). They practice drawing the three column types. Before the week is out, students bring to school a sketch of a building in their neighborhood that is designed with Greek columns. The culminating project for the week is building a model of the Parthenon. Students collaborate to make columns, assemble the model, and create decorative artwork in the style of the Parthenon friezes and architrave.

The students study the symbols that were used to represent various gods.

Here they are creating drawings that will be used to grace the pediments and cornices of the model Parthenon.

This fourth grader is drawing representations of friezes.

These students are forming columns out of corrugated poster board. Paper cones form the capitals of the columns.

In this model we made our columns out of fluted discs of baked salt dough.

These girls are placing the decorations on the almost completed model.

Here we have placed groups of "people" to give an idea of the enormous scale of one of the greatest architectural achievements of the ancient world!

Last update: 4-17-01/mgl