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Florida Middle Schoolers Building Homes of Their Own
 Interested in seeing the students in his community learn how to apply their skills in math, science, social studies, technology and English to construct custom homes from the ground up, Bryan Lendry, founder of Brylen Homes, recently presented the Fernandina Beach Middle School in Florida with a network version of Building Homes of Our Own.
Developed by NAHB as part of a comprehensive educational outreach initiative, the interactive teaching tool for middle and high school classrooms is free to educators and NAHB members.
Building Homes of Our Own is a perfect match for the school’s progressive approach to education, according to Dr. John Mazzella, its principal.
The school’s mission is to develop each student into an inspired life-long learner and problem solver with the strength of character to serve as a productive member of society, Mazzella says. “Exposing our students to different ways of thinking through the use of new technologies and real-life applications like those presented in the Building Homes of Our Own software package is a great way to enhance the critical thinking skills of our students and instill a lasting love for learning.”
The computer animation game presents users with a macro view of the entire home building process, from site selection to final sale. Students are involved in every aspect, from initial lot selection and building permit acquisition, to the selection of interior fixtures and landscape placement.
Students collect information and seek advice from in-game experts, including an oil scientist, environmental consultant, archaeologist, architect/land planner, structural engineer and civil engineer. They are required to make a multitude of choices as they construct a 3-D home, balancing their efforts with the desires of the community and budgetary constraints.
Once the final coat of paint has dried and the sod has been placed, players win the game by reviewing credit applications and selling their newly constructed home to the buyer of their choice for a tidy profit.
For more information about Building Homes of Our Own and obtaining copies for outreach to schools, click here; or e-mail Kym Kilbourne at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447.
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