Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Fallen Arches: The Surprising Strength of Eggshells
Arches have been used for structural engineering since ancient times. This experiment tests the strength of a naturally occurring arch shape: the shell of an egg. How much weight do you think an eggshell can support?
Other
Images of England: Learning Zone
View images of England's local built environment. Images and text can be copied and used in classrooms.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Building Up, Breaking Down
Smithsonian in the Classroom presents Building Up, Breaking Down. Teachers can download this comprehensive teaching package in which students investigate how buildings weather. See what happens to a building once it has been erected....
ArtLex
Art Lex: Architectural Model
An architectural modeling lesson that first demonstrates how architects combine forms to create buildings and then provides instructions for building architectural models. Includes links to architectural terms and to useful illustrations...
Other
Brooklyn Expedition: Structures
If you've ever wondered how animals use their homes or what we are made of, this is the place to look. This site from the Brooklyn Children's Museum explores the shared characteristics among animal skeletons and homes, architecture, art...
Library of Congress
Loc: Built in America
This collection documents achievements in architecture, engineering, and design in the United States and its territories. Highlights of the collection include windmills, bridges, and buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Designing Courthouses
Read a passage about courthouse design and answer the follow-up questions.
archKIDecture
Arch Ki Decture: Alcove, Defined and Illustrated
The "Word of the Week" from ArchKIDecture, a teacher-created site that encourages awareness of human-built environments, defines and illustrates the term "alcove."
NC State University
The Engineering Place: Construction
Choose a characteristic and have students build a structure that will have it, using whatever materials are available. For example, it could be as tall or as strong as possible.
Tech4Learning
Pics4 Learning: Buildings
Pics4Learning publishes a searchable photo collection of various types of buildings from around the world.