Vocabulary list
(table available in print form)
Building Materials observations sheet
Building Materials
1. Choose a building that you like.
2. What is the predominant material in the building? If there are two or three main materials, include them too.
3. Why do you think this material was used to construct this building?
4. What is the overall shape of the building? (eg. square, round, rectangular, domed, etc) How does the building's shape change as the building gets taller?
5. Why do you think this building was built in this shape?
6. Give an example of another building material that could have been used to build this building. Explain why your material would have been better or worse than the material chosen by the original builders.
7. Give on example of how the primary material is connected to one of the other materials used in the structure.
8. Based on the construction techniques and the materials used, how long do you think this building will last? Explain your answer.
Roof
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1. What material was chosen for the roof of this building?
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2. Would you have chosen this material to roof this building? Why or why not?
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Doors
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1. Find a door that you like. This can be any type of door (house, school, fence gate, animal door, etc.) Sketch the door and its surroundings here.
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2. What is it that makes this door different?
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3. What is it about this door that you like?
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4. What does the door appear to be made from?
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5. What is the door frame made from?
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6. Are the hinges on the inside of the door, the outside of the door, or next to the door?
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7. Can you see how the door is connected from its frame? If you can see how it is connected, draw or describe it below. If you can not see how the door is connected to the frame, make your best guess.
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8. What type of material is the wall that the door is built into?
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9. How is the door frame connected to the surrounding wall? If you can not actually tell, make your best guess.
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10. What do you think this door will look like in ten years time?
Windows
1. Find two windows that you really like; they do not have to be from the same building. Sketch them here.
2. What is it that you like about these windows?
3. What are the windows made from? Are they clear glass, plastic, stained glass, louvered, etc? If they are mullioned or latticed windows, don't forget to describe the materials used to create the mullions and lattice.
4. How are these windows connected to their frames? Can they be opened?
5. What material is the wall surrounding the windows made from?
6. How are the frames set into the surrounding wall?
7. What mood do you think these windows create inside the building? How do you think different windows would change the mood of the room?