ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Youth Programming

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ offers the New Heights and Grand Tour programs for middle school and high school students to help children and teenagers expand their understanding of and engagement with the built environment. In addition, the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ hosts school group visits to the Plaster Cast Hall, tailored to the students' age and curriculum.

Most in-person and webinar youth programs are offered through collaborations with middle schools and high schools. The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ also offers A Young Architect's Toolkit, an introductory drawing video series for middle and high school students.

New Heights

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s first program for middle school and high school students, New Heights fosters an appreciation of the practice of architecture through experiences in the classroom and in the field. Typically taught over the course of a week or semester, or adapted to suit the host school's curriculum, the course immerses students in the fundamental concepts of building, design, and architectural language to help them develop observational, creative, and critical skills to engage the built environment. Coursework includes drawing and design exercises, walking tours, and hands-on demonstrations in building craft.

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The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ would like to thank and for generously supporting the New Heights program.

The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour is a one-day immersion in the world of an architect for middle school and high school classes. Architecture is a profession and field of study often not covered in middle and high school curricula, despite its cultural, social, and political impact on our society throughout history. The Grand Tour seeks to introduce students to the history and principles of classical architecture and urban planning as well as its current application in the communities of the program’s students.

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The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ would like to thank for their generous support of the 2021 Chicago Grand Tour program.

Plaster Cast Hall Visits

Taught by the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s Cast Hall Fellow, a museum educator and art historian, school group visits to the Plaster Cast Hall collection are designed in collaboration with educators to make sure that each bespoke visit builds upon the group's curriculum and brings history to life. Practicing artists and architects often join the visits, leading students in demonstrations and art-making activities that prompt them to stretch their creativity and look closely at the works around them.

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A Young Architect's Toolkit

As part of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s Cast Hall programming, this video series explores how to draw in perspective, depict a column in proportion, and sketch buildings on site. In three introductory tutorials for middle and high school students, follow working architects and designers as they demonstrate key skills that every architect uses and help you hone your architectural eye.

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