RETA Curriculum Guide

Architecture of New Mexico

Social Studies and Language Arts (Grades 3-4)

Designed by: Daniel Garcia, Jr.

Introduction

This lesson explores the influence of geography on adobe architecture in New Mexico. In groups, students investigate one of three types of New Mexican adobe architecture - Pueblo, Territorial or Northern New Mexican. An interactive media piece allows students to design a floor plan and calculate the area of the rooms.

Student Outcomes

After completing this lesson students will be able to:

  • Explain the influence of geography on the architecture of New Mexico.
  • Explain the characteristics of Pueblo, Territorial, and Northern New Mexican styles of adobe architecture.
  • Use a variety of sources, including technology, to gather information on architecture of New Mexico.

Technology Usage

  • Internet Connection
  • Scanner
  • Printer
  • Camera

Preparation:

  • Prior to beginning this lesson, ask students to bring in three pictures of adobe buildings. Encourage students to take pictures of buildings in your local community.
  • As students bring in pictures of buildings in New Mexico, post on a bulletin board or a display area.
  • A major objective of this activity is for students to serve as teachers or class experts.

Tasks: (actions)

  1. Instruct students to identify landforms and physical features on a blank outline map of New Mexico. Encourage the use of textbooks, Encarta 2000, or the Internet as references.
  2. Introduce Pueblo, Territorial, and Northern New Mexican styles of adobe architecture in New Mexico using pictures.
  3. Introduce vocabulary. Put the vocabulary words on a large sheet of paper. Post on a wall where students may refer to it.
  4. Have students locate areas within New Mexico where each type of architecture was traditionally located.
  5. Brainstorm why these different styles may have been located in each of these areas. (i.e. metal-pitched roofs were used in Northern New Mexico because it allowed the snow to melt off the roofs). Have students refer back to the maps they filled out with the different landforms and physical features in the state of New Mexico.
  6. Discuss the availability of materials and the difficulty of transporting materials during the time period when each type of architecture originated.
  7. Using a Venn diagram, students compare the three different types of architecture.
  8. Students, in groups of 4-5, choose one type of architecture to research.
  9. Show students examples of a PowerPoint™ presentation. Encourage the use of a variety of media such as the Internet, Encarta, books, or magazines to incorporate into presentations.

Presentation

Students use PowerPoint™ to make a visual presentation that explains a style of adobe architecture.

Assessment

Students’ PowerPoint presentations and advertisements will be assessed using a teacher created rubric. The rubric and a checklist of items are given to the students before they begin the activities. See attached rubric.

Extension

  1. Groups then create an advertisement to sell a house typical of the style researched. Brainstorm with students various purposes and audiences the advertisement. (What is the target for the advertisement: the Sunday classifieds, a magazine?) Students are given checklists and rubrics to be used in assessing presentations.
  2. Students may create small adobe bricks by mixing straw, dirt, and water. Once the adobe bricks are formed, they should be sun-dried. Recipes for making adobes in a school setting may be found at:

Resources

Online

  • Examples of different types of adobe architecture.
  • New Mexico CultureNet
  • Encarta Online Encyclopedia
  • A slide show of adobe buildings.

Offline

Southwest Architecture and Children, posters from The University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning.

Spears, B. (1986). American adobes: Rural houses of northern New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Bunting, B. (1964). Taos adobe: Spanish Colonial and Territorial architecture of the Taos valley. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press.

Dickey, R. F. (1949). New Mexico village arts. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

New Mexico Content Standards

Social Studies

3) Students will know, understand and apply the language, tools, and skills of social studies.

5) Students will know and understand relationships and patterns in history in order to understand the past and present and to prepare for the future.

11) Students will know and understand the diverse, dynamic, and ever-changing nature of culture.

12) Students will know and understand physical environments and their relationships to ecosystems and human activities.

13) Students will know and understand the impact of science and technology on societies.

Language Arts

1) Students will understand and use Language Arts for communication.

2) Students will understand and use Language Arts as a learning tool.

4) Students will use a variety of listening and reading strategies appropriately skills.

5) Students will speak clearly and write effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes.

10) Students will use state-of-the-art computer and other technology to gather, use, and synthesize information, and to create and communicate knowledge.

RETA Curriculum Guide

Adobe Architecture of New Mexico

A Lesson for 6th – 8th Grade (Social Studies, New Mexico History)

Designed by: Daniel Garcia, Jr.

Pueblo, Territorial, or Northern New Mexico Adobe

Mission

Many people have never really looked at New Mexican adobe architecture. Some people think adobe is a style of architecture. However, when you look closely, you’ll realize that there are three different styles, or types, of adobe architecture – Pueblo, Territorial, and Northern New Mexico adobe.

In this adventure, you’ll work with a group to thoroughly research one style of adobe architecture. Using maps, pictures and other visual aids, you’ll become an expert capable of designing an adobe house. As you start your research, keep in mind this essential question:

What are the adobe architectural styles in New Mexico? What are the reasons for choosing a particular style?

Getting Ready & Supplies

Collect pictures of adobe buildings. Your own photographs of adobe buildings in your community are an excellent starting point. You may also find pictures on the Internet.

Before you begin, print out the Rubric for Adobe Architecture Presentation

Supplies
  • Pictures and photographs
  • Scanner
  • Digital camera (optional)

Your Adventure

  1. With your group, collect a variety of images of adobe architecture.
  2. Classify each building according to its style.
  3. As a group, decide which style you will become expert in.
  4. Choose a building that allows your group to research the following factors:
  5. approximate date of construction
  6. materials used and a clear description of the outside of the building
  7. building purpose
  8. typical floor plan, with explanations of architectural features such as doors, windows and roof
  9. interesting or unique features
  10. Plan a presentation to teach your class about the style of architecture your group has researched.
  11. Assign jobs to group members
  12. See Rubric for Adobe Architecture Presentationto guide group work.
  13. Design a newspaper advertisement to sell the building. Refer to Rubric for Adobe Architecture Presentation for ad requirements.
Part 3 ~ Online Activity!

Resources

Online

  • Northern New Mexico Style - Pitched Metal Roof
  • New Mexico Adobe Architecture

Offline:

  • Architecture and Children, Southwest: Posters from The University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning.
  • Adobe: Past and Present. (1972). El Palacio, 77(4).
  • Bunting, B. (1964). Taos adobes: Spanish Colonial and Territorial architecture of the Taos Valley. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press.
  • Dickey, R. F. (1949). New Mexico village arts. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
  • Spears, B. (1986). American adobes: Rural houses of Northern New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Vocabulary

Colonial American style[B1] / bracket[B2] / dormer[B3] / gable[B4] / galvanized[B5]
corrugated metal[B6] / latillas[B7] / milled lumber[B8] / viga[B9] / latticework[B10]
pediments[B11] / propanel[B12] / insulation[B13]

Digging Deeper

Take your design a step further and test your skills by doing the following:

Challenge #1 ~ Print out a copy of your floor plan and use a word processor and/or spreadsheet program to organize your information. Here is a sample of a table and the steps that may be used to complete the task.

Number of Adobe Blocks Necessary
East Wall / West Wall / North Wall / South Wall / Total
Outside walls
Inside walls
Grand Totals
  1. Decide on the dimensions of the adobe bricks you would use to build your style of house. Remember to credit the source for your information.
  2. Determine how many bricks are needed to build only the outside walls of the house. You will need to know the length and height of the wall to make this decision. Explain your calculations.
  3. How many blocks are needed for the remaining walls of the room?
  4. Make a table showing your calculations.

Challenge #2 ~ Adjust for windows and doors. Did you notice that we didn’t take make any adjustments for windows or doors?

  1. Add the measurements for the windows and doors.
  2. Calculate how many blocks would fill the total space.
  3. Subtract the amount of blocks from the total.

[B1]1A style, which uses early East coast ideas, which come from the Ancient World.

[B2]1A support used to strengthen posts or any other areas of a structure, which have right angles.

[B3]1A window set vertically in a structure which is coming out from a roof with a slope.

[B4]1The vertical triangular shape of a window or end of a building.

[B5]1Metal, which has been chemically or heat-treated to last longer.

[B6]1Metal that has ridges to help water flow down faster.

[B7]1Young aspen trees which are used for many building purposes such as fencing, roofing, and railing.

[B8]1Wood that has been cut at a sawmill.

[B9]1Cut logs used to support a roof.

[B10]1Any items, which create a pattern, used to decorate a building.

[B11]1A triangular shape used over a window or door.

[B12]1Metal sheets, which have baked on enamel, finish which come in many colors.

[B13]1Any material which helps keep a structure warm or cold.