As the first weeks of summer arrived at the Mary Rowlandson Elementary School in Lancaster MA, 200 students participated in lively, hands-on design sessions offered by Learning By Design in Massachusetts, a statewide K-12 architecture and design education program. This program was brought to the schools through the efforts of Maud Ayson of The Bulfinch Fund.
Supported by Lancaster’s Cultural Enrichment PTO funds, grade 4 and 5 students attended a series of hands-on workshops taught by LBD’s Executive Director, Jan Ham and master teacher/architects Amy Ohman and Jyothi Grama. As a way to strengthen learning in the Social Sciences, grade 4 students designed and built scale model houses suited for specific geographic regions of the United States. As a way to use architecture as a theme for connecting Mathematics and Technology Education, grade 5 students viewed an Archi-Math slide set and worked in teams to complete a hands-on design-build activity.
Students explored basic architectural and structural elements using design features found in the historic meetinghouse and National Landmark designed by Charles Bulfinch. The classroom exercises and activities concluded with project presentations allowing students to share their building models and design solutions.
Bringing Learning By Design to Lancaster was a unique opportunity for me, because I saw a lot of community support for the program and an above average awareness of architecture and architectural history thanks, in part, to the very visible presence of Charles Bullfinch’s First Church The students and teachers are appreciative of how lucky they are to have such a special architectural treasure in their town. – Amy Ohman Master Teacher/Architect.
This community outreach initiative grew out of Bulfinch Explorer student tours offered by The Bulfinch Fund and a LBD: MA professional development workshop for Lancaster teachers done in 2010.
LBD is about so much more than learning ABOUT design It’s a hands-on, fun way for children to develop valuable academic and life skills such as problem solving, math, collaboration/teamwork and creativity. The most memorable moments as a LBD teacher are when student comes into the classroom and you can almost see the light bulb go on over their head, and they jump into the project and take it in a direction you never expected.
– Amy Ohman Master Teacher/Architect.
BACKGROUND
The Bulfinch Fund is a secular, independent 501c3 non profit organization committed
to the preservation of Lancaster’s Fifth Meetinghouse of the First Church of Christ Unitarian. The Fund’s objectives are to develop resources for the preservation and restoration of this building and to foster recognition of the significance of the 19th century American architect, Charles Bulfinch, through tours and other educational programs, events and publications. We hope this American Masterpiece will be a vibrant gathering place for community, educational and cultural activities for generations to come.
Martha Moore, Executive Director
The Bulfinch Fund
PO Box 194, Lancaster MA 01523
978-365-5570
info@thebulfinchfund.org
www.thebulfinchfund.org
Learning By Design in Massachusetts is a statewide, architecture and design education program. LBD strives to integrate the design process in how every teacher teaches and every student learns. As a result of design-based learning, children value their connection to architecture and develop a sense of stewardship for sustainable, well-designed environments and strong communities.
Jan Ham is Executive Director of Learning By Design in Massachusetts, a children’s
design education program of the Boston Society of Architects. With a Masters degree from Southern Connecticut College, Jan has been a leader in K-12 Architecture and Design Education for 12 years and teaches at places such as Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Massachusetts.
Jan Ham, Executive Director
Learning By Design in Massachusetts
508-528-4517
janham@lbdma.org
www.lbdma.org
