Kendall A and E, Fox Run D 12/12

All classes have finished studying house styles in our area. I hope you have all found houses in these styles around Norwalk. Even I have been noticing houses more!

Three classes have drawn floorplans of the castle. The other classes will do that this coming week. For those three classes, homework is to begin sketching how your dream home would look. Think about both the outside and the inside. Outside, what style would you like? What details are your favorites? Think about how many rooms you would like and what rooms they would be. Consider what your lifestyle is like. Make the house suit your lifestyle.

There are many good house plan websites online, but one of the best is eplans.com. You may use this site to get some ideas, but do not copy any design or floorplan. You will design your own.

All Classes 12/6

We are still nearly finished studying some of the historic house styles found in this area, Cape Cod, New England Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Bungalow. Many of the students have enthusiastically reported being able to identify all of these right here in Norwalk. They have had great fun looking and seeing the architectural details they recognize as characteristic of these periods. Keep it up, and let me know what you find!

A few classes learned about load and stresses buildings face. We shall further examine the structure of homes this week with photos of the construction sequence of my own home and by examining several sets of real blueprints.

All Classes 12/1

For the most part, we have nearly completed our study of the different styles of houses. One class already has gone on to looking at the structure of buildings and how it would feel to be the various parts of a building. We shall then make some beams and experiment with various support structures. We shall learn how architects design homes and how they suit the space to the client's lifestyle.

All Classes 11/22

We began to examine drawings of houses from the early Colonial period through the more recent Bungalow style of the early 1900s. We analyzed the pictures according to the elements of architecture and design. We then shared our analysis with the class to learn the details of these styles. Many students did very well teaching their classmates. I hope that next we can go on to "what it feels like to be a building" when we learn about stress and load. Homework this week is to notice the styles of architecture we studied when you are traveling around Norwalk and surrounding communities. Name the roofs and architectural details and see if you can find evidence of the style of the house. Find some Second Empire homes...just look for the Mansard roofs.

Fox Run D and Kendall E 11/14

Last week we began to examine drawings of houses from the early Colonial period up through the Bungalow style of the early 1900s. We analyzed the pictures according to the elements of architecture and design we recognized in previous classes. (listed below in pink) We then shared our analysis with the class to learn the details of these styles.

A question came up. I mentioned that the colonists sometimes left a smaller reveal when installing the clapboards toward the bottom two feet or so of the exterior walls of their houses and then spaced the clapboards a little wider from there up. We know that the clapboards shed water off of their bottom edges onto the board below without the water being able to seep up between the boards to damage the house. We could also guess that the people did not arrange the boards at the bottom this way just for appearance. Therefore, since the clapboard siding's purpose was to keep out the elements (rain, snow, air) they must have thought that water would be more likely to come in under the boards more at the bottom than at the upper parts (NOT from flooding). Think logically about this, and figure out why water might affect the bottom boards more than the upper ones.

All Classes 11/7

At our next session we shall examine the structure of buildings and how their architecture keeps them standing (most of the time!).

All Classes 11/3 and 11/7

Continue to look at architecture. Analyze it according to the stylistic architectural details we listed (such as roofs, trim, windows, doors, stairs, railings, porches, siding, and location) and within the context of the artistic design elements we identified (texture, color, line, curve, edge, angle, shape, size, length, height, depth, balance, symmetry, rhythm, repetition, contrast, movement, pattern, light/shadow, plane, space, and direction). Notice how architects used these elements to create many different designs. We especially want to discover what physical and emotional reactions people have to architectural designs and why so that we can design the best possible house later this year.

In class we have already or shall soon examine ancient and modern architecture to identify the design elements and then look at the practical aspects of the designs. In other words, why were the structures designed the way they were, and why did the builders use certain building materials? In reverse, we could ask how building materials affect how a building is designed.

Kendall 10/28

Keep observing houses in the area. Notice what you like and dislike.

All Classes 10/25

We have finished very stimulating discussions of the Jr. Great Books story, Charles. I hope you all truly understand now how to think critically about literature and remember to ask yourself questions when you are reading. Think about questions like: What is the author REALLY trying to say? Why did the author select that particular word, perhaps because it has more than one meaning? Why do the characters say and do certain things? What do the character's behaviors tell me about their thinking and attitudes? Is the author including details that cannot be true, as in this story, to make me think about what is really happening? Think about what you read and question continuously.

All classes have begun the architecture unit by now. We began by considering the meaning of the term and then asked ourselves whether architectural style changes over time. We defined the details that contribute to architectural style. We then had fun looking at minute details in six paintings to arrange them chronologically.

We continue now to learn about details of architecture and architectural terms and then the different styles of houses. Please notice houses in your neighborhoods. Are they all similar or very different? What details do you like and dislike? Look at shapes, roofs, windows, doors, and all the other details we identified that contribute to style

All Classes 10/18

If you began the architecture unit and finished the initial discussion about architectural styles, then I assigned this homework.

Find a building you really like - one that makes you emotionally react in a positive way to it. Study the building carefully and determine which of its details is the one that most appeals to you. In other words, what is it about that building that attracts you to it? Draw that detail. Prepare to explain to the class what the detail is and why you liked it. Does it remind you of something? Does it have a link to something in your past? Bring your drawing to class next session. Have fun! Do a lot of looking before you decide what you like best.

Jefferson C-Day 10/14

Find a building you really like - one that makes you emotionally react in a positive way to it. Study the building carefully and determine what detail about it most appeals to you. In other words, what is it about that building that attracts you to it? Draw that detail. Prepare to explain to the class what the detail is and why you liked it. Bring your drawing to class next session. Have fun! Do a lot of looking before you decide what you like best.

Jefferson C-Day 10/5

Thinking about our discussion of Charles' punishments at school and about the alter ego, reread Charles and notice all the clues the author, Shirley Jackson, put into the story to let us know that Charles was not real. Think about why Laurie's own parents did not figure it out!

Fox Run F-Day 10/2

Reread Charles and think about the alter ego we talked about (does things we wish we could do but would never or could never really do, is invincible). How does your understanding of that concept change your interpretation of the story?

Kendall A-Day 10/1

We met for a shortened period because of my obligation at Central Office. I believe I gave you this assignment: Please reread Charles and mark where characters admire or approve of Charles' behavior and where they disapprove of his behavior. Reread the story again before coming to the next class, preferably the day before.

If I gave it to you, please give your parents the letter and schedule. Try to find an old spiral-bound notebook if I did not give you one (your A.T. one from the past years would be good), a pocket folder such as last year's A.T. folder, and a protective, closed container for your materials. I would recommend that you re-use old ones rather than spending money on new. I bought plastic bags and can give you one if you need it. I shall get new pocket folders and notebooks later if you need them.

Jefferson F-Day 9/30

Please finish rereading Charles and continue to mark where characters admire or approve of Charles' behavior and where they disapprove of his behavior. Reread the story again before coming to the next class, preferably the day before.

Be certain that you gave your parents the letter and schedule and that you try to find an old spiral-bound notebook if I did not give you one (your A.T. one from the past years would be good), a pocket folder such as last year's A.T. folder, and a protective, closed container for your materials. I would recommend that you re-use old ones rather than spending money on new. I can give you a plastic bag if you need it.

Jefferson C-Day 9/24

Be certain that you gave your parents the letter and schedule and that you try to find an old spiral-bound notebook (your A.T. one from the past years would be good) and a protective, closed container for your materials. I would recommend that you re-use old ones rather than spending money on new. I can give you a plastic bag if you need it.

Kendall A-Day and Fox Run B-Day 9/23

Please reread, Charles before coming to the next class. The day before class would be best. Be certain that you gave your parents the letter and schedule and that you try to find an old spiral-bound notebook (your A.T. one from the past years would be good) and a protective, closed container for your materials. I would recommend that you re-use old ones rather than spending money on new. I can give you a plastic bag if you need it.