Bring the excitement and enrichment of a Student Day Workshop directly to your classroom or home! Student Day workshops will be offered virtually during school year 20-21 as one-hour live, interactive sessions led by a CFA Design Educator. Students will explore the focus topic through inquiry-based investigations of architectural examples, and drawing, movement and/or design activities. Programs are adapted to meet the abilities of your K-12 class and conclude with demonstrations of suggested hands-on design projects that students can complete on their own with simple materials.
Deepen student learning by booking an additional Follow-Up Design Workshop where a CFA Educator guides students through a hands-on design project related to the Student Day theme. Design Workshops must be booked in conjunction with a Student Day program. Schools are expected to provide basic supplies such as glue, scissors, pencils, rulers, markers/crayons and construction paper. An additional per student materials fee may also apply.
All programs include a downloadable Resource Packet with additional information and activities to help you connect the program to your curriculum and explore the topic in greater depth.
Program cost is $200 per class (30 participants max) for a Student Day or Follow-Up Design workshop. NYC public schools are $150 per workshop; Title One schools are $100 per workshop. Programs are conducted on CFA’s Zoom account.
Look through our Student Day Curriculum Connections chart to see how these programs support and align with Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, and Visual Arts Standards.
Please contact Nadya Kim, School Programs Coordinator at 212-358-6127 or nkim@centerforarchitecture.org to begin the booking process.
Student Day is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
Student Day Programs
The Language of Architecture grades K-6
Students learn how to “read” buildings for clues about their design and function as they observe and sketch architectural elements and different building types through an interactive slide show and virtual neighborhood walk customized to your school’s neighborhood.
Follow-Up Design Workshop: Students consider the different types of buildings in a community and design their own to create a 2-D classroom streetscape or 3-D neighborhood model. Per student materials fee may apply.
Skyscrapers: Structure and Strength grades K–12
Students learn about the structural systems that support tall buildings as they are guided to analyze examples of skyscrapers from around the world. Students become familiar with key engineering concepts and structural components through discussions, demonstrations, drawing and movement activities.
Follow-Up Design Workshop: Students design and build their own model of a skyscraper’s structural frame. Per student materials fee may apply.
Building Bridges grades 2-12
Students investigate the design and structure of four different bridge types (beam, arch, truss, and suspension) to learn how each works to support the load of traffic and span long distances. Students create labeled drawings of each bridge type, identifying structural components and forces, and gaining an understanding of key engineering concepts.
Follow-Up Design Workshop: Students construct their own working model of a suspension bridge using CFA-provided kits. $5 per student materials fee. (additional shipping costs if outside NYC.)
Green Architecture grades 3-12
Students learn about how buildings impact our environment through their energy and resource use and become familiar with sustainable design techniques and principles that can help us create environmentally friendly buildings.
Follow-Up Design Workshop: Students create a model of their own green structure using recycled materials. Per student materials fee may apply.
Scale Model Building grades 6-12
Students explore how scale is used in architecture to create measured drawings and architectural models, then use these tools to create their own architectural floor plans of an apartment at ½” = 1’ scale. Schools must be able to download and print scale resource materials for students.
Follow-Up Design Workshop: Students turn their 2-D floor plan into a 3-D scale model. Per student materials fee may apply.
