Your class will never look at buildings the same way again after this 'Famous Buildings' scheme of work for Year 3/4! They will investigate a variety of the world's most famous buildings, thinking about what makes a building aesthetically pleasing and exploring how architectural styles change over time. Of course, there are plenty of hands-on and creative activities for them to do too and the opportunity to recreate famous buildings in a variety of ways.

With lesson plans, slides, activity ideas, differentiated worksheets, picture cards, challenges and much more, these 'Famous Buildings' lessons contain all you need to turn your class into creative and inspired architects!

This scheme is also part of a Topic Bundle. Perfect if you are teaching 'My World' as a cross-curricular topic, this bundle also includes Geography, History and PSHE schemes.

Lesson 1: Comparing Buildings

The first lesson in this series gives your children a general overview of the role of an architect, before exploring a range of famous buildings from around the world. Your class will discuss which building they think looks best and why, and think about why their opinions may differ.

Included within this lesson pack is an easy-to-follow plan, a set of slides for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated worksheets
Picture Cards

Lesson 2: St Paul's Cathedral

This lesson takes a close look at one of Britain's most famous buildings and most famous architects. They will find out who Sir Christopher Wren was and what he achieved during his lifetime before looking at arguably his most famous design, St Paul's Cathedral.

As a class, children will first explore four different shading techniques - hatching, crosshatching, scumbling and stippling - and then will apply these skills in their independent activities when shading in an outline of St Paul's Cathedral.

A detailed plan, an informative slide show, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources are all included in this St. Paul's Cathedral Art lesson pack.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated worksheets
Photo Cards
Shading Techniques Sheet

Lesson 3: St Basil's Cathedral

No, your class are not looking at the set of a Disney movie…they are looking at one of the most colourful and unusual buildings in the world! St Basil's Cathedral in Russia attracts millions of visitors every year with its weird and wonderful shapes and colours.

Children will first explore the history, design and features of this unique cathedral before looking at some different methods and techniques they could use to create an artwork of the building. They will be challenged to mix paints to match the colours of the different domes, or in the alternative activity, use oil pastels and ink to create a striking artwork of the cathedral.

Included with this lesson pack is an easy-to-follow plan, a set of slides for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Cathedral Outline sheets

Lesson 4: The Taj Mahal

This lesson focuses on the Taj Mahal, looking specifically at its symmetrical design. Your children will identify lines of symmetry within the facade of the buildings, as well as in the building's reflection in the pool's water, before creating their own symmetrical Taj Mahal masterpiece!

Within this art lesson pack is a detailed plan, a set of engaging slides, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Picture Card
Half Taj Mahal Card
Taj Mahal Outline

Lesson 5: Sydney Opera House

This lesson looks at a more modern building - the Sydney Opera House. Your class will find out about the lucky winner of a competition who became the architect of one of the world's most recognisable buildings.

Children will use the opera house as the inspiration for their own artwork, where they will either create a textured collage of the building, or experiment with making a simplified paper sculpture.

This ready-to-teach lesson pack comes with a detailed plan, an informative set of slides, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Photo Cards
Sail Template

Lesson 6: Becoming Architects

The final lesson in this series allows your children to draw on everything they have found out about architecture and a variety of building designs to design their own building for a particular purpose. Focusing on the exterior aesthetics, your class could design a new vet centre, palace, aquarium or any other type of building they feel inspired to dream up, thinking about colour, line, shape and features.

An easy-to-follow plan, an informative slide show, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources are all included in this Art lesson pack.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated worksheets
Design Brief Cards

Art and Design

Sculpting Vases

Famous Buildings

At the Pantomime

Jewellery Designers

Sonia Delaunay

Mark Making

Still Life

Can Buildings Speak?

Islamic Art

Space Art

Roman Mosaics KS2

Art Illusions