Architecture activities
We have created a set of engaging and easy to use resources for people of all ages and interests.
Some of them will develop your skills or teach you something new about architecture, some you can do together as a group and some all you need is your imagination.
Reading Architecture
Brand new Key Stage One and Two literacy resources
Enjoy using our brand new Key Stage One and Two literacy-focused learning resources to help you to explore award-winning architecture texts with your pupils. In 2021, RIBA Learning launched a national Reading Architecture literacy project designed to help RIBA understand what architecture books we should be recommending to children, young people and teachers. During the summer term of 2021, over 650 students from 27 schools across England were asked to read and review a set of architecture books. The winning books were announced in November 2021. To celebrate World Book Day RIBA Learning has teamed up with John Keats Primary School to design a set of cross-curricular learning resources that will enable teachers and pupils to enjoy award winning books through practical literacy and design focused activities.
Visit the Reading Architecture page of learning resources.
Build-a-puppet
Make your very own puppet that is also a building out of recycled materials.
Download the free Build-a-puppet resource.
Big Green Stories with Olivia Armstrong
Draw along with three inspiring stories as part of the Big Green Architecture Draw.
Big Green Forest Finds with Milly Wood
Join Milly Wood making mini-dens with natural materials as part of the Big Green Architecture Draw.
Big Green Roofs
Explore green roofing and model making with Katie Kennedy, as part of the Big Green Architecture Draw.
Tales of the City
Whether you are a regular visitor to our 66 Portland Place headquarters or have never been before, the RIBA Learning team have created a few ways for you to interact with the building in our worksheet for Open House London 2020.
3D Paper Model Techniques
Learn the techniques to cut, shape and fold paper to be able to create your own 3D models step by step with educator Milly Wood.
Watch 3D Paper Model Techniques.
How to Make an Architecture Slider Puzzle
Follow this step by step guide to make an architecture inspired puzzle which can then be used by people of all ages to solve.
Download How to Make an Architecture Slider Puzzle.
Recycle and Redraw
Explore a new way of drawing buildings using everyday objects as inspiration with artist educator Daniel Wallis.
Build Your Own Biodome
Learn about the different ecosystems found in biomes and biodome structures before making your very own biodome model from toilet rolls. This activity was written and produced by West Port Architects with input from Sandra Kolacz.
Download Build Your Own Biodome.
Cereal Box City
Follow this step by step guide to make your very own city in a cereal box with artist educator Katie Kennedy.
Drawing Rooms
Learn techniques to create 3D perspective drawings and detailed studies of the rooms in your home in this resource for all ages.
Masterplan
Become a Master planner and create a vibrant city map using 3D paper model-making with artist educator Katie Kennedy.
Pavilions, Pop-ups and Temporary Structures
Learn about structures that are not built to last then have a go yourself at making a tent or a den with artist educator Zoe Allen.
Download Pavilions, Pop-ups and Temporary Structures.
Flexible Spaces: Working for and with Communities
Can you solve the challenge of designing a space for a community with many different people wanting different things? Your challenge has been set by artist educator Marianne Holm Hansen.
Download Flexible Spaces: Working for and with Communities.
How to Make Newspaper Stick Structures
Follow this step by step guide to make newspaper sticks which will form the building blocks for making your own 3D architecture models.
Download How to Make Newspaper Stick Structures.
How to Make Gingerbread Buildings
Follow this step by step guide to make delicious edible treats that are inspired by the built environment you can see around you.
Download How to Make Gingerbread Buildings.
Draw with George: a 3D skyscraper
Join the RIBA Learning mascot George the Lion as he shows us in a few simple stages how to draw your own skyscraper. You can draw a skyscraper you know from your window, from photos or images from the internet, or draw from your imagination!
All you need for this activity is a pencil and a sheet of paper.
Find inspiration and images of differently sized and shaped skyscrapers on RIBApix.
Watch Draw with George: a 3D skyscaper.
Draw with George: stairs in 3D
Stairs can be tricky to draw, but RIBA Learning mascot George the Lion will show you how to draw them one step at a time. Look around you, do you have a staircase near you? How many steps does it have, what materials is it make of? Draw from real life, images from books and the internet, or use your imagination!
All you need for this activity is a pencil and a sheet of paper.
Find inspiration and images of amazing and quirky stairs on RIBApix.
Watch Draw with George: stairs in 3D.
Architecture brief generator
Challenge yourself to respond to a randomly generated architectural brief, in which you will have to consider location, building use, your client and their taste in architectural styles.
Download Architecture brief generator.
Colour and Create Architecture
Download spreads from RIBA Publishing’s forthcoming colouring book 'Colour and Create Architecture: Gigi finds a new home' – due to arrive in autumn 2020.
- If you have a printer, print these off – they’re best at A3 size but A4 is fine too!
- If you don’t have a printer you can use MS Paint (or Paintbrush on Mac) to colour in and add to the drawings onscreen using a computer
Download Colour and Create Architecture spread 1 as a PDF (for printing) or JPG (for colouring on screen).
Download Colour and Create Architecture spread 2 as a PDF (for printing) or JPG (for colouring on screen).
Curriculum based activities
Animal Architecture
Explore human and animal architecture and create a home for an animal of your choice in this KS1 and KS2 DT, Art and Science project.
Build like an Egyptian
Learn about the architecture of Ancient Egyptian burial sites before designing and making your very own pyramid in this cross-curriculum project suitable for older KS2 students.
Download Build like an Egyptian.
Design like a Greek
Go back in time to learn about Ancient Greek architecture, mythology and worship in this student led KS2 History and English project.
Happy Places
Use inspiring images to explore how different places make you feel and why before designing and making your own Happy Places in this PSHE project for KS2 and KS3 students.
The Safe House
Protect the Prime Minister from an invasion by designing him a special safe house in this self-led KS1 and KS2 DT and Science project.
Story Making Places
In this KS2 and KS3 English project, you will use the RIBA architectural collections as inspiration, discovering new places that will feature in your amazing stories.
The Beauty of Numbers
Use algebra and geometry to investigate the Golden Ratio and apply these principles to design your very own beautiful building. For KS3 and older students.
Download The Beauty of Numbers.
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