TEACHING MODES: Drama; lecture to whole group.
PURPOSE
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To understand some of the concepts of architecture which relate to the human body. (See Goal 1, and Objective 2.)
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To introduce the 55 vocabulary words dealing with architecture. (See Goal 3 and Objectives 3 and 4.)
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To introduce students to the 15 locations and/or buildings selected for this project through the prepared slide show. (See Goals 2 and 4, and Objectives 1 and 5.)
ACTIVITIES
After introductions and a brief discussion on architecture, students will gather in groups of six. This will be a drama “warmup” activity called, for the purposes of this unit, “Body Building.” Talk briefly about how a building is like a body. Where are the heart, brain, emotional center, feet, front, back, eyes, ears, head, clothes, skeleton, and face? Does the building have any symmetry? Four students in each group will be asked to create a variety of buildings within a 30 second time frame: house 1, house 2, house 3, school, library, church, community center. The two remaining students will then provide a “tour” of the building using as much body terminology as possible. (Instructor can introduce this terminology.) Each new building will have a different grouping of four students improvising and two students providing the tour.
Explain to students that we will be visiting fifteen different locations and/or buildings to study how architecture makes us feel and how we can learn words to better discuss architecture. We will go on a field trip to see these buildings and we will make up plays and/or dances to go with them. In ten weeks we will present a play about architecture to other students in the school. Ask the students if they are interested in this project. If they are not, then something has not been done correctly, and more time must be spent on motivation and reintroduction of the topic.
Show the slides and introduce (or reintroduce) the following vocabulary with each slide. (Use the definitions and content section provided in this unit for more information to use during the lecture.) Take three or four responses from students on each building to the following question: How does this building make you feel?
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1. Hannah Gray House: Dentils, Doorway, Eaves, Foundation, Molding, Ornament, Porch, Victorian.
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2. Hannah Gray House: Brackets, Dormer, Roof, Tower, Windows.
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3. (Transition between Victorian and Modern. The slide shows a
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portion of the Hannah Gray House, built in 1875, and the United Church of Christ, built in 1968.)
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4. United Church of Christ: Courtyard, Doorway, Facade, Foundation, Modern Architecture, Monument (Although technically not a monument, it has that feel, and the concept could be introduced here), Portico, Roof (where is it?), Wall, Window (where are they?).
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5. United Church of Christ: Looks like a castle with a waterless moat around it. Two bridges can be seen going over the moat.
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6. Dixwell Community Center or “Q” House: Modern architecture.
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7. Dixwell Plaza; Stetson Library: Column, Modern architecture, Portico.
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8. Dixwell Plaza: Eaves, Modern Architecture.
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9. Phelps Gate (Front): Arch, Classical, Dome, Doorway, Facade, Molding, Tudor.
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10. Phelps Gate (Back): Pilaster, Tower.
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11. Connecticut Hall: Colonial, Facade, Eaves, Foundation.
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12. Dwight Chapel: Doorway, Gothic, Ornament, Towers, Windows.
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13. Trinity Church: Column, Eaves, Facade, Footing, Gothic, Ornament, Tower.
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14. First Congregational Church (Center Church): Classical, Column, Facade, Federal, Gothic, Ornament, Tower.
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15. Center Church: Abacus, Arch, Architrave, Base, Beam, Capital, Cornice, Dentils, Doric, Entablature, Frieze (Note the Ox Skull with garland decoration, either copied from the St. Martin’s-In-The Fields in London and/or a symbol of St. Luke16), Ornament, Pedestal, Pediment, Portico.
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16. Center Church: Foundation, Pilaster.
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17. Center Church: The grave of “J.D.”, the only visible gravestone on the Green. Colonel John Dixwell, a regicide judge, is buried here. John Dixwell signed the death warrant of King Charles I, and changed his last name to David. His grave was marked “J.D.” so his family would not be found.17 This has particular relevance to students at Wexler School as the school is on Dixwell Ave., and this information can serve as a memory to anchor this building and create “ownership” for the students.
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18. United Congregational Church (The North Church): Arch, Architrave, Column, Cornice, Dentils, Dome, Doorway, Eaves, Entablature, Facade, Federal, Keystone.
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19. The North Church: Columns, Ionic.
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20. The North Church: Fluting, Pediment.
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21. New Haven Free Public Library: Abacus, Arch, Architrave, Classical, Colonial, Columns, Cornice, Dentils, Foundation, Frieze, Keystone, Niche, Pilaster.
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22. New Haven State Circuit Court: Column, Facade, Greco-Roman, Monument, Neoclassicism, Portico.
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23. New Haven State Circuit Court: Abacus, Architrave, Base, Capital, Classical, Column, Cornice, Entablature, Frieze, Ionic, Monument, Pedestal, Pediment.
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24. New Haven State Circuit Court: Frieze, Ornament, Pediment.
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25. Hewitt Quadrangle (Beinecke Rare Book Library): Footing, Modern Architecture, Ornament.
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26. Beinecke and Commons: (Contrast) Tower, Colonnade, Columns, Entablature.
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27. Commons with Monument: Abacus, Architrave, Base, Capital, Classical, Colonnade, Column, Corinthian, Cornice, Courtyard, Dentils, Frieze, Monument, Pedestal, Pilaster, Portico.
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28. Memorial Hall: Courtyard, Dome.
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29. The Gate at Grove Street Cemetery: Abacus, Architrave, Base, Capital, Column, Cornice, Frieze, Monument, Pedestal, Pylon. (Note the Lotus motif.)
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30. Aaron Skinner House: Architrave, Brackets, Capital, Column, Cornice, Entablature, Facade, Flutes, Frieze, Greek Revival, Ionic, Pediment, Portico, Windows.
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31. Aaron Skinner House: Eaves, Foundation, Moldings, Portico.
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32. Aaron Skinner House: Pergola, Porch, Windows, Wing.
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33. Aaron Skinner House: Brackets, Columns, Doorway, Doric, Porch.
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34. Aaron Skinner House: Brackets, Columns, Entablature, Fluting, Portico.
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35. Aaron Skinner House: Review of above.
