News

The Middle School Building Project: Two Teachers, One Goal, Monumental Results

Shipley’s interdisciplinary studies intertwine core subjects and special electives to promote a constant flow of learning. Shipley’s Jeff Hanna, Middle School art teacher, and Peter Schumacher, Middle School history teacher, team up to provide this type of learning experience for their eighth graders. Using concepts learned in both art and history, students collaborate with one another to complete one project. What they simply call “the building project” offers hands-on experience and promotes critical thinking and collaboration, while teaching students that life interconnects in so many ways.
The building project brings together eighth grade art and history throughout most of the school year. In a nutshell, the students choose a vacant location in Philadelphia, design a building to fill that void and present their building project to others. “This is a neat project,” Jeff says. “It really defines working in a group and doing collaborative work, which is why I love it.”

Learning from the Past, Building for the Future

Peter kicks off the project in history class. His first unit on urbanization introduces students to the founding and functionality of cities. Using Google Maps, the eighth graders form their groups and zoom in on Philadelphia and identify vacant locations. “There are empty lots all over the place,” says Peter. “We ask students to design real buildings in real places. They have to think about several things: Will it work? What is the purpose of the building? Where will people park?”
After much consideration of what type of building will best suit each location, Jeff takes over in the art room. “We start with architectural drawing,” Jeff says. Students conceptualize and visualize their buildings and essentially create a blueprint. Next, they start crafting their monument.
“Some students are good with construction, some are good with drawing, some writing, and some graphic design,” Jeff explains. “This project highlights everyone’s interests and strengths.” The options are limitless. Jeff allows students to use wood, metal, paper, saran wrap—whatever works for them. The buildings can be very modern, retro, or something more traditional. Whatever the project, students have to work together to make the building a success.

Collaboration is Key

Both Jeff and Peter believe the collaboration required on this project enhances skills the students need to excel in both classrooms and in the real world.
Peter explains, “Any opportunity to make a connection between what they’re doing in a more hands-on class with a more academic class and to see that work as complementary is a really good idea. It’s not so isolated.”“We want them to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” explains Jeff. “We don’t want to just hand them the information and say, ‘learn this’. We want them to figure it out for themselves.”
After several class periods in the art room with Jeff, the project comes back to the history classroom. Each group creates a brochure for their building. Brochures include photos and a few paragraphs about the building itself.
The project concludes in the history classroom with presentations. Each group presents their building and brochure to the rest of the class. With the class asking lots of questions about the buildings, presenters need to think on their feet to deliver educated answers.
“In doing their presentations with their models and brochures, students think about how city government works,” Peter says. “If you’re a developer, how do you speak to city council when you want to build a building? What materials do you present to them?”
Jeff and Peter hope to keep improving the project and making advancements to benefit the students. In the future, they hope to invite architects or real estate developers to sit in on the presentations and offer feedback on the buildings that students craft.

Preparing for Life

“I think this project helps students make those real life connections,” admits Peter. “There is so much potential for students to relate to this project. This is their city. It allows them to feel like they’re a part of something. It gives an idea of contributing to something bigger.”
Peter and Jeff say they could probably do this entire project on their own, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as interesting or beneficial for the students. Having the flexibility to develop interdisciplinary projects allows students to engage creatively in all they do.
Back

News

The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.