Exploring Architecture at Hope Valley and Pearsontown Elementary Schools in Durham

Students working on their ideas with Legos

On Monday, September 28, the Exploring Architecture program visited two new elementary schools in Durham: Hope Valley Elementary and Pearsontown Elementary. Across both schools, we worked with 134 students in grades K–5 through their afterschool programs.

Both schools run year-round, and the students were in intersession, a three-week break from the daily school schedule. Our workshop gave them an enrichment activity that kept the learning going with fun on the side.

Exploring Architecture starts with imagination. Students come up with their own designs and write the brief for what they want to create. Then they get LEGO and build models of their ideas.

Students showcase their work

Why LEGO

LEGO is a kind of universal language for young kids. It needs no explanation, and students are always excited to pick it up and use it to express what they have in mind. A brick model turns someone's idea into something the whole group can look at, touch, and talk about.

The program encourages students to dream big, creating models ranging from buildings and sea creatures to automobiles and more.

At Prism Design Lab, we believe young people have ideas worth taking seriously and that design education is one way to show them. Thank you to Hope Valley Elementary and Pearsontown Elementary and to their after-school programs for welcoming us.