Curated OER
Vertical Thinking
Students explore the inventions and innovations of skyscraper engineering as a part of architecture analysis. In this architecture analysis lesson, students research the inventions, innovations, architects, and engineers of skyscrapers....
Curated OER
Cube-It Conceptual Art
In this cube-it activity, 6th graders solve and complete 3 different types of problems. First, they start with a cube and build a step-back skyscraper with a given base. Then, students build four-sided pyramids with cubes. They also...
Curated OER
Tug-Push-Twist-O'War
Students explore through experimentation how choice of materials affects structures.
Curated OER
Skyscrapers
Middle schoolers examine photographs of skyscrapers. They work together to design their own building. They must include a list of all of the essential materials and how to deal with problems. They present their completed design to the...
Boston College
A Digital Archive of American Architecture
Captivating photographic archive of American architecture. Find photographs of over 280 buildings that were constructed between the 17th and 20th centuries.
Museum of Modern Art
Mo Ma: Tall Buildings
Students will love to play around in this site! As soon as you click on Enter, the site takes control of your screen with an imposing array of tall building shadows. Some of the buildings have been built, some are under consideration....
PBS
Pbs: Building Big: Skyscrapers
Information about the basics of skyscrapers, with profiles of nine big-building wonders. Extras include a loads lab, which illustrates how and why skyscrapers stand up and keep standing up, and interviews with builders, engineers, and...
PBS
Pbs Building Big: The Skyscraper Challenge
A site for all users interested in the engineering behind the building. Site engages users in a job that requires them to investigate troubled buildings and then figure out how to fix them.
Other
Skyscraper Museum
The Skyscraper Museum is dedicated to the tallest buildings in the world, most of which are in New York City, the museum's home. Learn about both how and why skyscrapers reach greater and greater heights.
Other
E Volo: Skyscraper Competition
Every year since 2006 eVolo, an architecture magazine, sponsors a futuristic skyscraper design contest in which architects from around the world communicate their visions of the future in architectural terms. Browse the winning entries...
Other
Skyscraper Museum: Big Buildings
A site devoted to exploring big buildings. Big Buildings are more than just tall, they are also wide from left to right and from front to back. Many of the world's most famous buildings are on view at this site, which includes photos and...
Other
Skyscraper Museum: World's Tallest Towers (1890 2004)
A graphical timeline that showcases all the buildings in the world that, at one time, held the title of world's tallest building during the time span from 1890-2004. Includes close-up illustrations of each building and numerous facts...
New York Times
New York Times: How the Towers Stood and Fell
A multimedia graphic explains how certain structural elements of the World Trade Center helped to delay its collapse when it was attacked on September 11, 2001, whereas other elements probably sped up the towers' fall.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Building Towards the Future
This curricular unit introduces students to basic Civil Engineering concepts in an exciting and interactive manner. Bridges and skyscrapers, the two most visible products of Civil Engineers, will be discussed in depth. Students will have...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Skyscrapers: Engineering Up!
Skyscrapers are one of the most glorified products of Civil Engineering and contain an interesting history of progress and development. In this lesson, the students will learn about the history of the world's tallest free standing...
Other
Skyscraper Museum: Building the Empire State
For 40 years, from 1931 to 1971, the Empire State Building held the title of world's tallest building. This site, from the Skyscraper Museum, tells the story of the building's construction. Includes wonderful historical photographs of...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Skyscraper Challenge
In this interactive activity from the Web site developed for the PBS series "Building Big," investigate hypothetical structural emergencies and figure out how to repair them.
Columbia University
Columbia Univeristy: Architecture of New York City: Birth of the Skyscraper
Learn about how and why skyscrapers were first built, and why they became a major symbol of New York City. This highly interactive site includes video lectures on the development and importance of skyscrapers, a timeline of commercial...
Boston College
Boston College:20th Century Architecture: Skyscrapers 1925 1945
This skyscraper page features a large selection of thumbnail images to enlarge, with architect, title, location, date, and height.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Buildings That Reach for the Stars [Pdf]
This lesson plan for grades K - 2 helps students understand what skyscrapers are, who might live, work, and visit them, and how they are important to the life of a city.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Center of the World: Teacher's Guide
Students will have an opportunity to create memorials at the World Trade Center site to commemorate the September 11th attacks. Come and check it out.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: John Marin
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, this site provides biographical information on John Marin in addition to an extensive listing of his works as displayed at the museum.
Boston College
Boston College: 19th Century Skyscrapers
This site has many images of skyscrapers from the 19th Century made possible by steel technology.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Gilded Age: America Moves to the City
Discusses the urbanization that took place at the end of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth. Includes questions for students at end.