Homeschool Explorations at Taliesin West

Architecture Inspired by Nature

Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs were all based on the principles of organic architecture. What is that? During this lesson, students will explore this architectural philosophy and learn how the natural world helped inspire some of the world’s most beautiful buildings.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
October 16, 2025

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

spring vegitation in front of Taliesin West


 

Draw the Shapes of Nature

Students will learn to look at Nature the way Frank Lloyd Wright did! He challenged the apprentices of Taliesin West to draw nature as simple, geometric shapes. Students will explore the desert around Taliesin West and create a piece of art to take home.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
October 30, 2025

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

Frank Lloyd Wright's Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers unrealized Liberty magazine cover


 

Wright and Water

Students will walk through the desert to learn how water has shaped the geologic features around Taliesin West. They will learn how Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings to work with nature, especially rivers and waterfalls.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
November 6, 2025

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

pool filled with water in front of the Prow at Taliesin West


 

Why are Blueprints Blue?

Students will learn about the history of blueprints, and why this artistic photographic process became so important to architecture! They will create their own cyanotype print to take home, using the same process Frank Lloyd Wright once used.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
November 20, 2025

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

cyanotype process example to illustrate why architects used this technique to reproduce building plans.


 

Holiday Treasure Box

When Frank Lloyd Wright lived at Taliesin West with his students, they would create special gift boxes for him at Christmas. These gift boxes were often elaborately painted and hid special artworks or poems inside. In this tradition, students will create their own winter holiday boxes that can hide small notes and treasures.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
December 18, 2025

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register


 

Furniture Design for Kids

Many architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, designed furniture as well! During this class, we’ll examine some of Wright’s furniture pieces, learn about other unique types of furniture, and make our own paper furniture models to take home.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
January 15, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

Drawing of chairs


 

Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright in Asia

Students will learn how Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired by Chinese and Japanese culture. They will study Chinese ceramics and explore the art of Japanese Woodblock Printing. They will design and create their own Chiyogami pattern paper to take home.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
January 29, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register


 

Stained Glass Discovery

Students will learn about the history of stained glass and how it is made. We will then explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s stained glass windows and how he interpreted nature in his designs. Students will create their own faux stained class art to take home.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
February 12, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register


 

Solve a History Mystery

Become a history detective! Students will use photographs and objects from the Taliesin West archives to explore the history of Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter camp and desert laboratory. They will learn how museums use documents and artifacts to tell an exciting and accurate story of the past.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
February 26, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

magnifying glass on parchment paper with the words solve a history mystery in black text


 

Windmill Engineering Challenge

Students will learn about the history of wind power, how architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a windmill (Romeo & Juliet), and then build their own functioning windmill.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
March 5, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

romeo juliet windmill


 

Building with Balance

Students will learn about how architects use cantilevers to lift their buildings into the air, soaring over rivers and ravines. They will then explore concepts of balance and use their new knowledge to build unique balancing sculptures.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
March 19, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register


 

Concrete Creations for Kids

Learn about building materials and explore how the apprentices of Taliesin West made the building, using rocks from our own Sonoran Desert! Students will create their own “desert masonry” concrete art piece to take home.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
April 16, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

rock wall made of desert materials


 

Kid’s Eco-Engineering

Students will learn about sustainable building practices, passive solar design, and how Frank Lloyd Wright used these techniques at his desert camp, Taliesin West. Then, they will learn about solar power and make a mini green-energy craft.

Time:
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Date:
April 30, 2026

Price: 
Homeschool Student: $15
Adult Guardian: $0

Register

passive solar windows and awnings at Taliesin West