Lesson 1.1 History of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Concepts

1.  Many features of ancient structures are seen in modern buildings.

2.  Architectural style is often an important key to understanding how a community or neighborhood has developed and the aesthetic customs that have formed over time.

3.  The multiple architectural styles that have been developed throughout history are an indication of changing needs of people and society and uses for space.

4.  Visual design principles and elements constitute an aesthetic vocabulary that can be used to describe buildings and may help identify the buildings function, location, or time period.

Standards and Benchmarks Addressed

Standards for Technological Literacy

Standard 1: Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
BM L: / Inventions and innovations are the results of specific, goal-directed research.
Standard 13: Students will develop the abilities to assess the impacts of products and systems.
BM K: / Synthesize data, analyze trends, and draw conclusions regarding the effect of technology on the individual, society, and environment.

National Science Education Standards

Standard K-12: Unifying Concepts and Processes: As a result of activities in grades K-12, all students should develop understanding and abilities aligned with the following concepts and processes.

·  Systems, order, and organization

·  Evidence, models, and explanation

·  Change, constancy, and measurement

·  Evolution and equilibrium

·  Form and function

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

Geometry / Instructional programs from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 should enable all students to analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships; specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems; apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze mathematical situations; use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems.

Standards for English Language Arts

Standard 1 / Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classical and contemporary works.
Standard 4 / Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g. conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

Essential Questions

1.  How did the art and science of architecture and civil engineering evolve over time?

2.  Describe three structural systems used by architects in historical construction projects.

3.  How have historical innovations contributed to modern civil engineering and architecture?

4.  How are visual design elements and principles manifested in architecture?

Key Terms
Aesthetics
The quality of an object that deals with art, beauty, and taste.
Arch
A curved structure for spanning an opening, designed to support a vertical load primarily by axial compression.
Architect
An individual trained in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings.
Balance
The pleasing or harmonious arrangement or proportion of parts or elements in a design or composition.
Bearing Walls
Solid walls that provide support for each other and for the roof of a structure.
Civil Engineer
An engineer trained in the design and construction of public works, such as bridges or dams, and other large facilities.
Color
The aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources.
Contrast
A visual principle associated with change made in size, shape, color, or tone of graphic elements.
Design Principles
The rules that describe how designers might put together various design elements to create an aesthetic finished product.
Dome
An arrangement of several arches whose bases form a circle and whose tops meet in the center.
Element of Design
A basic visual component or building block of designed objects.
Emphasis
Stress or prominence given to an element of a composition by means of contrast, anomaly, or counterpoint.
Façade
The exterior face of a building.
Form
The shape and structure of something as distinguished from its substance or material.
Keystone
A wedge-shaped stone placed in the crown of an arch.
Line
The edge or contour of a shape.
Lintel
A beam supporting the weight above a door or window opening.
Movement
The effect or illusion of motion conveyed by the relationship of structural elements in a design or composition.
Pattern
An artistic or decorative design, especially one having a characteristic arrangement and considered as a unit.
Post-and-Lintel Construction
Wall construction utilizing a framework of vertical posts and horizontal beams to carry floor and roof loads.
Repetition
A principle where some graphic elements are repeated throughout the entire design.
Rhythm
Movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alteration of formal elements or motifs in the same or a modified form.
Shape
The two-dimensional contour that characterizes an object or area.
Space
The dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.
Texture
The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface, substance, or fabric.
Unity
The state or quality of being combined into one, as the ordering of elements in an artistic work that constitutes a harmonious whole or promotes a singleness of effect.
Value
The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
Vernacular Architecture
Culturally and climatically relevant architecture using locally available materials and traditional building techniques.
Voussoir
Any of the wedge-shaped units in a masonry arch or vault, having side cuts converging at one of the arch centers.

Instructional Resources

Presentations

History of Civil Engineering and Architecture.ppt

Principles and Elements of Design Applied to Architecture.ppt

Exemplar Project 1.1.3 Prairie Style Architecture

Word Documents

Activity 1.1.1 History of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements

Project 1.1.3 Architectural Styles

Project 1.1.4 Architectural Features

Lesson 1.1 Key Term Crossword

Answer Keys and Assessment Rubrics

Activity 1.1.1 History of Civil Engineering and Architecture Answer Key

Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Answer Key

Project 1.1.3 Architectural Styles Rubric

Project 1.1.4 Architectural Features Rubric

Lesson 1.1 Key Term Crossword Answer Key

Teacher Guidelines

Teacher Notes

How to Print PowerPoint Notes Pages

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CEA – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.1 – History of Civil Engineering and Architectural– Page 4