Brazilian Oval House

Build a replica of a house using the local materials and construction methods of Brazil! Discover the people and resources of this intriguing South American country.

• 1.

  Look up information about Brazil’s people, climate, vegetation, and other natural resources. What kinds of traditional homes were built in this South American country? You will find that some homes were made with mud, sticks, and leaves. With an adult, go outdoors and collect thin sticks that have fallen from trees. Wash your hands when you return.

• 2.

  Use Crayola® Model Magic and your imagination to build a replica of a traditional oval house. To create the desired Earth color of Crayola Model Magic, rub color from a Crayola Multicultural Marker into it and knead. Continue adding color several times to achieve the shade you want.

• 3.

  Sculpt the Model Magic into a rounded dwelling. Leave an opening for a door. Before the modeling compound becomes firm, press your sticks (or use wood scraps) into the walls of the house. Air-dry for 24 hours.

• 4.

  To create the roof, ask an adult to cut a cardboard oval larger than the circumference of your house. Choose more cardboard on which to set your house.

• 5.

  Cover your art area with newspaper. Use Crayola Washable Kid's Paint to make the roof look like it is made of plants. Paint the cardboard base a natural shade using a Crayola Paint Brush. Air-dry the cardboard flat.

• 6.

  Cut slits around the edges of the roof to resemble leaves. Attach the roof to the top of the house with Crayola School Glue. Glue the home to the base cardboard. Air-dry before you display it.

Benefits

• Students research the land, people, vegetation, and climate of Brazil.
• Students gather information about how the land, natural vegetation, and climate of an area determine how traditional homes are built.
• Students design and build an authentic, traditional replica of a Brazilian oval house.

Adaptations

• Assist students with special needs and younger students to find photographs or see replicas of the homes they are building.
• Find out what types of homes were originally built in your area. What materials did the native peoples use? How did immigrants influence building styles?
• Discover how people have built houses around the world in different time periods. Create different styles of structures such as a Norwegian moss-roofed or a Fijian or Irish thatched-roof house.
• Discuss the various types of building materials and where in the world they are found. For instance, people living in northeast United States or Great Britain would not have made a home out of palm tree fronds.
• Construct a chart, graph, or timeline that lists countries, their climate, and the type of building materials that native people used to build houses.
• Identify current home-building materials. Trace the sources for, and characteristics of, each product.