Perhaps this lesson unit is inspired by the incessant dust settling in my art room... We read Roberto The Insect Architect by Nina Laden. This book is quite wordy for 7 years old but they should be good since I'm reading to them using my most animated voice. For children who are not ready to tackle such a book (Phew! I only have 1 in one of my classes), I have them stand beside me and using his/ her finger as a pointer as I read. This seems to cause them to be less fidgety and less likely being a disruption to the others.
The children are working on designing their new school as an architect. They have wonderful ideas during class discussion such as water slides, train tracks, trampoline, tunnels, university etc. Windows that are neither squares nor rectangular. There is even a mobile school that moves like a vehicle. Some photos of their drawings with mixed media are below:
