Hood leadership builds students’ knowledge of architecture

 

The Fibonacci sequence, positive and negative space and the Golden Ratio were a few of the topics Williams/Ledger and Hettie Halstead Elementary fifth grade gifted education students explored in the world of architecture. It took a trip to Fort Hood to concrete the images in students’ minds.

 

In class, students recently discussed contemporary issues in architecture including protecting the environment. Listed at the Texas Performance Standards Project website, the goals of the unit the students are studying include becoming familiar with mathematical patterns, increasing understanding of the architectural field and designing an original structure. This led to investigating green building and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, teacher Katie Drake said.

 

“Students read articles and saw pictures, but those don’t compare to visiting a place and talking to professionals. General Engineer Jennyth Peterson had the idea to guide the students on a tour of facilities on Fort Hood,” Drake said.”

 

The first stop of the tour on the military post was the Department of Public Works headquarters. Students saw rainwater harvesting and solar panels in use in architecture. A stop to a community garden was included to allow students to view an example of landscape design and understand how neighborhoods can become LEED certified. This was the favorite part of the field trip for Williams/Ledger Elementary fifth grader Lorelei Starling.

 

“I don’t know why we don’t have (a community garden) in Cove,” she said. “I saw all the LEED qualifications possible…solar panels, recycling, everything. It was fun.”

 

General Superintendent Lyle Barnett allowed students to view a live home demolition and investigate the resurfacing of an old neighborhood which is slowly turning into a green space. Halstead fifth grader Kaylee Porter was able to make the connection between in class investigations into types of forces, such as loads, and real structures which was a key goal of the field trip.

 

“I really liked spotting the different loads,” Porter said. “The four different loads we had were shock loads, environmental loads, live loads and dead loads.”

 

Meant to increase students’ understanding of structures both inside and out, the tour took the students to Chaffee Village Community Center, a LEED Silver certified building. LEED certified architect Matt Wilbourn shared with students about career paths, LEED building materials and the steps of taking a design idea through the process of construction.

 

“Armed with professional mentors, a field experience and a portfolio full of in-class learning experiences, the students are now planning for the final step in the project,” Drake said. “Using their learning, students are charged with creating their own model structures and practicing the 21st Century Skill of communication to share their new understanding of the architectural field.”