Adobe brick buildings play a prominent role in the architecture of the Southwestern United States. In this lesson, you will learn about adobe construction techniques and analyze the risks and benefits of adobe constructions.

This lesson covers the Arizona State Standards for grades 7 and 8:

Science

Strand 3, Concept 2: Science and Technology in Society PO1,PO2,PO3

Writing

Strand 1 Concept 5 PO1, PO3

Concept 4 PO1,PO2

Concept 6 PO1,PO2

The following resources will be provided:

1. Southwestern architecture books and magazines

2. Adobe brick construction videos and pictures

3. Internet sites

The original 1878 building at McFarland State Park is a traditional adobe brick structure. Adobe structures are among the oldest buildings on the earth. This type of construction was introduced by the Spaniards to Arizona in the 16^th century. There are both advantages and disadvantages to adobe constructions.

You are on the planning committee for a new town youth center. The town's people want to incorporate a traditional Southwestern look to the youth center and therefore would like to construct an adobe building.

Your task is to present a report that analyzes the risks and benefits of adobe buildings. Your report will be presented at the next town council meeting. The town council will use the results of your report to vote on the type of building that will house the youth center.

You will work in groups of four. Each student will be responsible for researching a particular aspect of adobe buildings.

· What is adobe?

· How is an adobe building constructed?

· What are the risks and benefits of adobe constructions?

Person 1 : To describe the materials that make up adobe.

Person 2: To describe the steps in constructing an adobe building.

Person 3: To list the advantages of an adobe building.

Person 4:  To list the disadvantages of an adobe building.

.

Each group member will tell the group about what they discovered. As a group they will analyze the risks and benefits of adobe buildings and decide on a recommendation that does or does not endorse the use of an adobe youth center building. The group will prepare a report to the town council on their recommendation for and against the construction of an adobe youth center building.

Each presentation will analyze the risks and benefits and the group recommendation.

· Written report

· Power point presentation

· Visual aid ( poster or 3-D model)

· http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/216.shtml

· http://www.anangpur.com/mud%20arch.html

· http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief05.htm

· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/adobe

· books and periodicals

Please see rubric to review the criteria which will determine your individual grade.

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=PrintRubric&rubric_id=1283411&no_return=1&PHPSESSID=424e3e01088299c16ca701421a4f056d

Congratulations on your excellent presentations to the Town Council. The Town Council will use your recommendations to vote on the type of building that will house the new Teen Community Center.

Your web quest has given you the opportunity to form a conclusion based on the risks and benefits of an endeavor.