March 16, 2026

Dear Families,  

When we are outside, children often ask questions about our building. They want to know the height of the school building, what it’s made of, and how strong it is. They also ask many questions about the way it looks. Their ongoing interest in our building helped us realize that buildings would make a good study topic.  

To get the study started, we are gathering all sorts of pictures of buildings. We could really use your help! We welcome pictures from any source, such as newspapers or magazines, postcards, printouts from the Internet, and your family’s photo collection. It would be wonderful if you could include pictures of buildings in other parts of the world, too. Here’s a list of suggestions, but you may also send in pictures of buildings that are not on the list.  

houses,  yurts,  mosques,  concert halls,  skyscrapers, apartments, shacks,  post offices,  museums,  theaters, barns,  hotels-motels,  supermarkets, parking garages,  churches, sheds,  inns,  libraries,  gas stations,  synagogues, castles,  office buildings,  restaurants,  mechanic shops,  bungalows, cottages,  schools,  hospitals,  government buildings, huts, cabins,  stores,  factories,  community center

As we study buildings, we will learn concepts and skills in science, social studies, literacy, math, the arts, and technology. We will also be using thinking skills to investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions, and test our ideas. 

What You Can Do at Home  

Study your house or apartment building with your child. Is it a house or an apartment?  What’s the difference? What materials were used to build it? How many floors/stories does it have? How many rooms, windows, and doors does it have? Don’t forget the basement if you have one! How old is your home? Who built it? What are its dimensions?  

Talk with your child about the buildings that you see together. Keep a list of the buildings that interest your child. Help your child investigate questions like the ones we mentioned above.  

Thank you for playing an important role in our learning.