Submitted by: Linda Wood, St. John's Lower School, Houston, Texas
GRADE LEVEL: 4th thru 6th grade (examples are 5th grade)
UNIT: Architecture/Drawing
PROJECT: Dream Houses (or Haunted Mansions)
School Web Site: St. John's Lower School (Click Art Stories - go to Linda Woods)

     

Objectives:  The learner will

1. Gain an appreciation for styles of architecture - use a variety of sources to get ideas.
2. Combine architectural elements to design a "dream house"
3. Use pen and ink to develop textural interest
4. Develop skills in perspective through close observation of angles - Use overlapping to show depth.
5. Utilize elements and principles of design in an original composition.
6. Develop skills in drawing.

Materials:

Architecture handouts (from the Illustrated Architecture Dictionary), view finders, pencils, erasers, 12"x18" white drawing paper,  pen and ink (or Ultra fine point Sharpies), scissors, glue, construction paper

Instructional Resources:

• The Illustrated Architecture Dictionary
• Pictures of architecture from calendars and magazines
• Additional Online Architecture resources
• The Art Teacher's Book of Lists,  Architecture books.

Vocabulary:

line, texture, rhythm, balance, repetition, perspective,  cupola, dormer, gabled roof, gazebo, pediment, column, capital, and other architectural elements

Instruction/Motivation:

1. Discuss briefly styles of architecture - show various examples

2. Demonstrate ways transfer angles --show how to use view finder 

3. Demonstrate pen and ink drawing techniques for various textures 

Preparation:

Make a booklet of ideas for each table from the Illustrated Architecture Dictionary. Create a PowerPoint that shows different examples of architectural elements...different kinds of capitals, windows, roof types, doors, gazebos, turrets, etc.

Procedures:

1. Study handouts of architectural handouts - select features for your "Dream House"

2. Combine elements to design your home - draw lightly with pencil. 

3. Transfer angles to show perspective Hold pencil at an angle over the architectural model
   being used at the time and transfer the same angles to the drawing by simply not bending 
   the wrist but moving the pencil to show the same angle on the drawing paper and then 
   drawing the angle. Focus on parallel lines when drawing windows, door frames, rooflines, etc. 
   Horizontal and vertical edges of the paper may be used as guides for sighting angles.
   Viewfinders may be used to site angles to transfer to their drawings. 

4. Add freehand details such as people in the yard, animals, trees, fences, bikes, cars, etc.

5. Optional: Work as a group at the table to create one scene -- connect drawings together in 
   small groups (but in such a way that you could take them apart and have them stand alone 
   when time to take them home). 

6. Outline drawing with pen and ink (or Sharpie Ultra-fine point markers). Use pen to add
   textures -- shingles, siding etc.

7. Cut drawing out (cut out windows if desired) - cut away the negative space.

8. Put tiny dots of glue on back and mount on dark construction paper.

   Alternate Ideas: 

  1.Drawing on black paper - color with Prismacolor
      pencils or Crayola construction paper crayons.

  2. Draw on black paper with white Prismacolor pencil

  3. Color pen and ink drawing with watercolors.


Evaluation:

1. Did the learner create an interesting composition using a variety of architectural elements?

2. Did the learner show textures?

3. Did the learner create the illusion of depth through the use of overlapping and observation of angles?

4. Did the learner show use a principles of design?

5. Did the learner show skill and craftsmanship in drawing?

Alternate Lesson: Haunted Houses/ Haunted Mansions
This section was beefed up a little by Ken Rohrer

Use any of the media listed above and the work of Lewis Barrett Lehrman for inspiration.

Haunted house and mansions have been portrayed on television and in the movies as old Victorian or Italiante style homes that are very large and are usually unkept. Dead trees and unmowed grass adorn the lawn. Frequently there are broken or shuttered windows. What are some famouse haunted houses you can think of? If you watch TV Land, you will see the Munsters and The Addams Family haunted mansions.

Click on the images for full size The house from the movie Psycho. It is on the Universal Studios lot near Los Angeles, California. There is no interior- just the outside frame.	This is the house that the television show, Addams Family was modeled after. The house you see in the television show is actually a painting.

The Munsters mansion

What other houses can you think of that would make a great haunted house or mansion? What can you do to your house to make it scary? Below you will see pictures of old houses that you could turn into haunted houses. What can you do to them to make them scary?

Click on the images for the larger version This house is in New York. There isn't much you need to do to make this haunted, is there? It is already on a hill, already is surrounded by trees without any leaves, and needs a coat of paint.	This victorian mansion is in Georgia. You will need to do a little work on this house to make it scary. What can you do to make it scary? Would you do anything with the red, white, and blue drape decorations?

Links

• History of the Munsters home
• HauntedHouse.com
• Haunted House Association
• Haunted House Coffee Painting
• IAD's Halloween Page
• Haunted House Art