Building Big

Teachers’ notes

What’s it all aboutThe world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, has been officially opened with the height of the tower confirmed at an astonishing 828 metres. It is named in honour of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The design incorporates ideas from traditional Islamic architecture, while the open petals of a desert flower Hymenocallis were the inspiration for the tower's base. Like petals from a stem, the tower’s wings extend outwards from its core.

In this activity children will learn the parts of the flower and design a building using a flower shape as inspiration.

Where it fits

Science:

QCA Unit 2C: Variation

that plants in the local environment are similar to each other in some ways and different in others

to make observations and comparisons of local plants

Scientific enquiry

review their work and explain what they did to others

Literacy (speaking and literacy)

ask questions to clarify understanding extend their ideas in light of discussion explain their ideas to others

Art and design record from observation, experience and imagination and explore ideas

What children will learn:

the use of different materials for construction

Children will demonstrate this by completing the task on page 1 successfully.

to name the different parts of a flower

Children will demonstrate this by completing the task on page 2 successfully.

to make observations, ask questions, review their work and explain what they did to others

Children will demonstrate this by completing the task on page 3 successfully.

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What you need to do

Introducing the activity

Display Page 1 through a projector or as an OHT. Discuss the images with the children.

Has anyone seen this picture? Which country is it in? (use worldmap)

Using talking partners What might it be? What might it be made of? What materials can you see? (glass, metal etc. ) How was it built?

Leading the main activity

Display Page 2 through a data projector or on an OHT. This is the hymenocallis flower. This flower was used to inspire the base of the tallest buildingCan we name the parts of this flower- leaf, flower (petal), stem and root ?

Display Page 3 and print off copies as appropriate. This slide shows British flowers. Discuss with the children how they are going to design their own building.

Talking partners- what types of building can we make? Write a list on board (school, house, office) How can we use these flowers to help us with the shape of our building?For example- the barren strawberry may inspire 5 circular rooms surrounding a tall cylindrical tower with glass windows.

Instruct the children: On A3 paper- pick a flower from the sheet on your table (keep Page 3 on board also). Glue it onto your page in a corner and label the different parts. Draw your design in pencil, using the flower as inspiration. Use only sharp pencils and not coloured so it looks more like an architectural drawing.

Write a sentence at the bottom of your page describing your building.

Do try to make it as real as possible; if it has bricks draw them in, if there is a door draw it, if it is all glass make sure that it would really stand up - it will need something to hold it together.

This activity would be well supported with at least 1 mini plenary, showing work to the class that is coming along well or work that needs help. Maybe other children could offer ideas and advice.

NB/ This activity could use real flowers as inspiration, maybe from the school grounds, they could be photographed and the printout be glued onto the child’s page.

The root and ground could be added to the picture of the flower they choose.

Children have an amazing capacity for invention- trust them!

Plenary

Resources

A3 paper, pencils, glueSheet of British flowers

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Optional - real flowers and digital cameraWorld mapWords - leaf, flower, stem, root (differentiation to glue onto A3 sheet to label flower)

Extension Ideas . . . Cross Curricular Links

ExtensionDraw the root and ground onto the base of the flower you chose and labelLabel the different areas of your buildingDown one side of the page describe which materials you would use to make it; glass, shiny steel, bricks

Differentiation

Type the words -leaf, petal, stem, root- to glue on to label their flower

Making structures (Science)Investigate building structures with various materials. What are the problems? How high can you build?

Drawing diagrams (ART)Drawing diagrams of building designs

Assessment for Learning: Smart Grid

Thumbs Up We were great at the task because…

We labelled the flower

Next time we will…

We designed and drew our building We wrote a sentence describing what we had done

Thumbs Sideways

We were good at the task because…

We labelled the flower

We designed and drew our building

Thumbs Down

We were OK at the task because…

We labelled the flower and drew a building with help

Smart Grids were devised by the Centre for Science Education

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Science at your fingertips

Why did they build it?The decision to build Burj Khalifa is reportedly based on the government's decision to diversify from an oil-based economy to one that is service- and tourism-oriented.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa

Why did they call it the Burj Khalifa?It is called the Burj Khalifa after the President of Abu Dhabi. This is because Dubai recently experienced a severe financial downturn, and had to be saved by their neighboring country Abu Dhabi with a huge financial bailout. The original name of the new World’s Tallest Building (828m –2716ft) was going to be the Burj Dubai, but the name was changed to Burj Khalifa as a show of gratitude and humility. 

How many floors does it have?It has more than 160 floors and is clad in 28,000 glass panels.The tower also lays claim to the highest occupied floor, the tallest service lift, and the world's highest observation deck - on the 124th floor. The world's highest mosque and swimming pool will meanwhile be located on the 158th and 76th floors. http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/science/sci6g/sci6gq1?view=get

Web links

BBC Newshttp://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/science/sci6g/sci6gq1?view=getThe news story behind the activity

Burj Khalifahttp://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/science/sci4f/?view=getGo to world’s tallest tower (left icon) to compare building heights around the globe.Observation desk (left icon),ticket information, the experience- to find out details of the trip to the top

New Jersey Newsroomhttp://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/style/dubais-burj-khalifa-worlds-new-tallest-buildingInformation about the Burj Khalifa

English Country Gardenhttp://www.english-country-garden.com/flowers.htm

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Information and photos of traditional British flowers- Barren Strawberry, Bluebell, Buttercup, Daisy, Lesser Celandine, Primrose, Water Mint. Garden flowers- Daffodil

Primary upd8 is a joint initiative from ASE and the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University.

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