Academy

AIA is committed to helping young people discover architecture and design through exploration, drawing, and hands-on activities. We’re here to inspire, motivate, create, connect—because it’s never
too young to start thinking like an architect.

In 2019, in collaboration with our members and educational experts, AIA has created 11 engaging problem-based classroom activities for K–12 students. They use real-world problems to spark interest in the profession, explain architecture’s impact, and foster students’ skills in design thinking. All activities are targeted to specific grade levels, with room for educators to decide
what level is right for them. An inquiry-based learning approach allows students to build knowledge through critical thinking, exploration, experience, and discussion.

This work was made possible through the contributions of the AIA K–12 Taskforce, AIA K–12 Working Group, and the Wake Forest University’s Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching, and Learning (CERTL).