ZA+D Mentors Frederick's Lincoln Elementary 4th Graders

Lincoln Elementary School celebrated its 100th Birthday in 2023. In that same year, Community Coordinator for Lincoln Crosby Blair and ZA+D's Forrest Popkin discussed opportunities for partnership. What began as one guest presentation to 5th graders in 2023, blossomed into the discussion of how Architecture can be brought to a younger audience through the curriculum. The Art Teachers and ZA+D found a way.

ZA+D's Mission through Forrest: Inspire and lead the next generation confidently in exploring potentially lesser understood design professions, such as architecture. To achieve this, ZA+D aimed to do two things:

1) Be a resource to help educate local primary school kids about design, not just careers, but appreciation of design and 2) Be a mentor to those looking to see what architects do, to be a conduit to the design profession

The school needed ZA+D to align with their proficiencies, such as:

• Vocabulary - horizontal, vertical, diagonal, parallel, shape, perspective, scale/proportion, style, rhythm, repetition, texture, color.
• Identify ways that people use art for purposes in the community
• Identify how artists create art in different ways
• Drawing techniques "plan" "elevation" "perspective"
• Last but not least, to demonstrate that crude sketches are how we always start a project, sharing that even world famous architects like Kahn, IM Pei, Gehry, Graves, had to begin with a sketch.

The assignment was decided, to help the students Design Their Future Lincoln Elementary School. The collaboration would involved ZA+D visiting twice in back to back weeks, teaching al 4th graders. These visits would be book ends on the lesson - at the kick off, and at the conclusion.

Week 1

What may have been seen as unconventional, students begin with modeling in 3D vs drawing. However, there was a notable challenge to having the mostly uninitiated students dive into cutting cardboard and taping things together.

Paper cut out models of buildings was a perfect introduction, having 4th graders think in how 2D objects can be manipulated into 3D ones would be crucial to having them model the spaces properly.

This basis helped all students with varying skill levels build confidence and learn basic craft skills.

Week 2

Forrest demonstrated how students could take basic cardboard and quickly craft forms into their schools. ZA+D provided cutting tools and scale figures, teachers and staff brought in cardboard to supply the students. The lesson focused on forms, scale, and how we should begin to think about the massing of structure. Additive, subtractive, squares, circles, levels and site.

Week 3

After a brief hiatus where students were left to their own direction with the art teachers' guidance, ZA+D returned to be impressed with the models. It was now time to move on to the two dimensional exploration. Students quickly needed to learn the difference between plan and elevation. But after a few attempts, they were ready to try their 'napkin sketches.'

Students learned that even the best, most talented architects and the designs for their immaculate structures did not roll out of bed with an amazing design. It took many iterations, and sometimes, more often than not, it begins with a sketch as simple as one on a cocktail napkin.

Week 4

It was incredible to see how students could refine their concepts, add color, texture, detail to pair with their models.

When it was time to present for Encore night, select students volunteered their time to sit by their model and speak to their design. It was one more learning moment, where ZA+D could help them gain the confidence to explain the design, the process, and what their school for the future is all about.

ZA+D and Lincoln are looking to continue this partnership into the future. ZA+D is looking to build this idea year by year, staff member by staff member, to allow different perspectives and interests to be channeled to the younger generations. As a community focused firm, it is important to grow connection and education locally. ZA+D is thrilled to see how these projects turned out.

Special Thanks to Lincoln's Mr. Blair for the upfront coordination; to Lincoln's Ms. Presnell and Ms. Bittner for allowing much class time to be committed to the lessons; to Former AIA Baltimore President Anthony Consoli for his support and connection to numerous resources and people in Baltimore, namely the Future Architects Resources (FAR) volunteers for their ideas and inspiration.