Bronxville Second Graders Explore Sustainable Design Through ARCH Residency Program

Bronxville Elementary School second graders engaged in an exciting, hands-on learning experience last week as part of a PTA-sponsored residency program with ARCH (Architecture for Children). The residency was integrated into the second-grade social studies unit on communities and invited students to think creatively about how communities are built, sustained, and reimagined for the future.  

Working alongside the ARCH team, students collaborated in small groups to design and construct sustainable structures that could exist in a future community. Using cardboard boxes as their primary building material, students applied what they had learned about urban communities, renewable energy sources, and non-renewable resources to guide their designs.  

Throughout the process, students were encouraged to problem-solve, experiment, and communicate their ideas as they transformed simple materials into thoughtful architectural models. As they planned and constructed, they considered how factors such as energy use, environmental impact, and community needs influence the design of real-world structures.  

The unit also reflected the Bronxville Promise by fostering innovation, critical thinking, and engaged citizenship, as students worked collaboratively to design solutions that address real-world challenges facing communities. 

The residency offered students a meaningful opportunity to connect classroom learning to real-world applications, blending social studies with design thinking, collaboration, and creativity. By working together on a shared project, students also strengthened teamwork skills and learned firsthand how cooperation plays a vital role in building strong communities.  

The ARCH residency program was made possible through the generous support of the Bronxville PTA, whose continued commitment enhances hands-on learning opportunities across the elementary grades. Experiences like this allow students to explore complex ideas in an engaging, age-appropriate way while sparking curiosity about architecture, sustainability, and the world around them.