Students Receive Close-Up Look at Construction
Jan. 13, 2003--To enhance Lincoln Heights Elementary Assistant Principal Rod Stanton's architecture and construction unit, he invited Project Manager Keith Gifford to speak to fourth- and fifth-graders, Monday, Jan. 13.
From the moment Gifford entered the classroom wearing his
hard hat, he had the students' undivided attention. They took
full advantage of the opportunity to experiment with the architectural
tools he brought in and ask questions.
Gifford gave students plan sheets of Lincoln Heights and asked
them to use the scales, templates, triangles, and electric
eraser to draw additions to their school.
Gifford also displayed a three-dimensional model of Apex Middle - one of his projects. He explained the difference between two- and three-dimensional objects and how designers progress from drawings to models. Students also compared a copy of Lincoln Heights' original drawings from 1960 with drawings from about 10 years ago when the school's media center and cafeteria were renovated. Although the more recent plans were created using computers and calculators, the original drawings were done by hand.
Holding up blueprints, Gifford asked students to locate the bus loop, parent loop, parking lots, and football field. Not only did the children know that the contour lines in the shape of an upside down bowl represented the football field, they also knew it was higher in the middle to allow excess water to drain off the sides.
As the project manager was leaving, one child announced: "I think I'm either going to be an architect or a doctor."