Learning about architecture isn’t just for college students and professionals—it can start as early as preschool. Recently, Widseth’s Lindsey Kriens spent a fun-filled morning with four preschool classes in the Little Falls School District, introducing young learners to the world of design.
Each session began with Lindsey explaining what an architect does in simple, engaging terms. She shared that architects often design houses for people—but for this special lesson, the students were given a much more imaginative challenge: designing houses for animals!
The activity kicked off with each student pulling an animal cut-out from a basket. The animals ranged from alligators to elephants, instantly sparking excitement and curiosity. Before jumping into the design, Lindsey asked the students about basic shapes and even had them form shapes like squares and triangles using their hands. She then posed a thoughtful design question: “Do you think you might want to use a square or a triangle when you’re designing your house?”
Lindsey Kriens (white sweater) asks preschoolers if they’d like to design a house for an animal.
With animals chosen and ideas flowing, the students glued their animal onto a sheet of paper and began designing a custom home around it. Using popsicle sticks, they created walls and structures, while markers helped bring their designs to life with chimneys, sidewalks, steps, trees, and other creative details. Each project was unique—just like the young designers themselves.
The morning was filled with creativity, learning, and plenty of smiles. Experiences like this highlight how early exposure to design and problem-solving can inspire curiosity and confidence in young minds.
At Widseth, we’re always happy to support our communities—especially local school districts. K–12 Education is one of our primary markets, and opportunities like this allow us to share our passion for architecture while investing in the next generation. Sometimes, inspiration starts with an elephant, a handful of popsicle sticks, and a big imagination.
