Frank Lloyd Wright's Buffalo Lesson Plan

Lines in the Glass: FLW's Light Screens

Subject Areas:
ELA, Math/Technology, Art
 

Grades:
6, 7, 8
 

Student Materials:
Ruler, paper, drawing implement (chalk, pen, pencil, marker, crayon)

Teacher Materials:
Photos of Frank Lloyd Wright homes and windows

Tree of Life image

Procedures:
Many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s window patterns tend to reflect natural forms in an abstract style.
On the first floor of the Martin house, he used glass designs that resembled the wisteria plant, which grew on the site. In the first floor reception room and in the second floor windows, he used what came to be known as the “Tree of Life” pattern.

The “Tree of Life” pattern was the most complex pattern ever designed by Wright and had over 750 pieces of glass in each window.

Other designs for the Martin complex were geometric patterns and did not reflect things found in nature. These were in the horizontal skylights and lay lights (skylights illuminated by electric lights). These may have been more of a reflection of the geometric lines of the house itself.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed more separate window patterns for the Martin complex than for any other of his commissions. The house has fifteen different designs and an astounding total of 394 Wright designed windows were installed in the whole complex.
 

Lesson Objectives:
•    Students will respond critically to Frank Lloyd Wright’s art glass window designs
•    Students will apply mathematical concepts in a real world setting
•    Students will be able to identify synonyms
•    Students will create a geometrical design in a limited space
•    Students will use oral and written language to express their analysis and opinion of Frank Lloyd Wright designs
 

Teaching Ideas:
Frank Lloyd Wright designed a WHOLE house. He even designed the patterns that would be in the art glass of the windows. Mr. Wright designed this window. It is one of his most famous designs. The name of this window is “The Tree of Life”. Look at the window and label the parts. 

The parts are: 
branches
trunk
leaves
pot or ground

Ask students "what is your favorite thing in nature?" 

Frank Lloyd Wright designed his windows to look like nature, but he always used straight lines!

Ask students “what can you think of in nature that has straight lines?"
Use this idea and draw a nature design for a Wright-style art glass window. Just as Mr. Wright did, you must only use straight lines.