1. Semicircles

The dome at the National Gallery of Art looks like a semicircle. Where do you see this shape in your home or neighborhood? 

2. Columns

Columns are tall and help hold up the roof of a building. Count the number of columns you see in this picture. How many can you find in your neighborhood? 

3. Spirals

The tops of the columns at the National Gallery of Art have spiral shapes. Can you spot any where you live? 

4. Building Decorations

The outside or exterior of the building is made of Tennessee pink marble, with wreaths carved into the stone. What decorations do you see on the buildings around you?

5. Water Fountains

The National Gallery of Art has FIVE outdoor water fountains. Where can you find water in your neighborhood?

1. Letters

The East Building sits on land that is in the shape of a trapezoid. I. M. Pei had to design something to fit this unusual site. The building looks like the letters “H” (front and center) and “I” (just off to the side). Is it saying “HI” to you? What other letters can you find around your neighborhood?

2.  Triangles

The architect divided the shape of the East Building into two main triangles and included triangles all over: for the floor, the ceiling, the stairs, and even the glass pyramids by the fountain on the plaza. How many triangles can you count in your neighborhood?   

3. Windows

The ceiling of the East Building has an enormous skylight that lets the sun shine into the Atrium. Count the number of windows in your home. What shapes are the windows you see in your neighborhood? 

4. Shadows

Sunlight comes into the East Building through windows and skylights, and creates shadows that dance on the floors and the walls. What shadows do you see around your neighborhood? Try making shadows with your hands or body. 

5. Cobblestones

The plaza between the East and the West Buildings is made of cobblestones. They are bumpy and fun to walk on. What does the ground feel like where you live? Is it bumpy or smooth?

1. Japanese Maple  Acer palmatum

Small, with low and delicate branches, the Japanese maple trees at the National Gallery of Art have red leaves. Look for a tree whose leaves are not green.

2. Knock Out Roses  Rosa radrazz

Knock Out roses are known for their long blooming season and repeat flowering. Can you find a flower blooming in your neighborhood? 

3. Crape Myrtle  Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’

You can identify this very popular flowering tree by its smooth bark, which sheds throughout the year. What texture do you notice on the bark of the trees around you? 

4. Southern Magnolia  Magnolia grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’

This large evergreen has fragrant flowers during May and June. Notice the underside of the leaf: it is brown! Find a flower in your neighborhood that has a smell. Does it remind you of anything?

5. Yellow Yarrow  Eriophyllum confertiflorum

Butterflies and bees can be found on this brilliant yellow plant during the summer. What insects do you see in your neighborhood? Pay attention to how they move.