Messages of the Built Environment (Messages), developed in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is the wellspring for LLF’s Family and Community programs. Messages themes are: Every shape has a job; every building has a story.
- The architecture and design of everyday objects and environments become a source of exploration and discovery. Looking for lines, shapes and patterns in everyday surroundings makes abstract classroom ideas real and relevant to young children. Units include Homes and houses, Schools and classrooms, Neighborhoods and street “furniture” Downtowns and streetscapes.
- Counting, sorting, and naming lines and shapes supports math skills and improves vocabulary. Turning children’s observations into a game of “what if’s” stimulates their creativity and excitement about learning.
Messages provides enrichment for pre-K classrooms and for Out-of School-Time programs. Adaptations of Messages target specific audiences:
Parenting for Literacy serves parent-child together programs.
TAP: Teaching Advantage for Parents, classroom enrichment for Adult Basic Education.
LLF trains trainers and provides the materials and ongoing technical assistance to support this program. We work closely with architects and planners to showcase local resources inj each community.
Within 50 miles of the District of Columbia, LLF can provide direct service or train the trainers.