Geometric LEGO blueprints, gum drop structures, dirt playdough, and more!
C O N S T R U C T I O N week! What a great way to start the summer in a house full of creators and builders. This theme is great and easily links to subjects like Machines and Architecture (coming soon!). We spent a lot of time just walking and driving around our neighborhood, searching for construction sites and equipment and then spending hours just staring at the action and oohing and ahhing and the cool machines. It’s amazing how your toddler can kick your booty in a construction-vocab contest, hands down. “Mommy! Look at the excavator!” “No, Mom, that’s a front loader, not a dump truck…” Don’t forget to hop over to my Pinterest Construction Theme Page for tons of activities of all shapes and sizes.
Let’s get started with some discussion questions to discover what your kids are most interested in learning more about, and use them to guide your teaching and Pinterest-ing:
- What are some different types of construction vehicles and machines that we might see on a building site? What do they do?
- How do architects and construction workers team up to get the job done? Who are some other members on a building team?
- What are some safety measures that are taken on a construction site?
- What kinds of tools are needed to build a large and sturdy building structure?
R E A D I N G
This is another topic that we are fortunate to have plenty of reading material on. You could also supplement the traditional children’s construction books with non-fiction, early reading, subject-focused reading with lots of photographs and factual information. Here is our list:
- Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Dusky Rinker: As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! Also, be sure to check out these activities and printables by Teaching with Children’s Books to tie in with this reading.
- Demolition and Roadwork by Sally Sutton: Beautifully illustrated by Brian Lovelock, these two construction-themed stories play out sounds and rhymes, and all of the steps and machines that go into the process of building.
- Build It!: Structures, Systems, and You by Adrienne Mason: From bicycles to bridges to beaver dams, structures are all around us. Build It! explores the function of structures, the materials they’re made of, how their parts are joined together and more.
- Pete the Cat Construction Destruction by James Dean: When Pete sees that the playground is in bad shape, he gets a totally groovy idea—make a new playground! Pete calls in construction workers and cement mixers, backhoes and dump trucks to build the coolest playground ever.
- B is for Bulldozer by June Sobel: Get ready for a ride through the alphabet at a busy construction site. There’s a big yellow Bulldozer, a tall shiny Crane, and a rusty red Dump truck—and the construction crew is hard at work. But what are they building?
M E D I A
Media! Devices! Good old fashioned TV! These things, my friends, are the best (and cheapest) babysitters. Especially when you need to do the dishes or go to the bathroom without 16 interruptions. Here are some hot tickets for construction week:
- Mighty Machines: An oldie but goodie. If you have Netflix, you should have access to these classic episodes from our childhood. Let the nostalgia begin! If not, I think you can watch some of them for free on YouTube. You won’t need to do much searching to find episodes that are directly connecting to this theme.
- Bob the Builder: This PBS web page has links to videos, games & activities all relating to construction! The show is super cute, too, and you can access the original version on You Tube and new version on Netflix.
- Handy Manny: This Disney Junior website has free games that invites youngsters to pick the correct tool to fix something, and offers other problem-solving puzzles, too. Another great educational cartoon to provide some down time for Mom or Dad.
A R T
This is another big week for STEM, but since STEAM is so hot right now as an educational trend, art also felt right at home in the construction world. Take a peek!
- Geometric LEGO Blueprint by Kids Steam Lab: This is one of my favorite summer activities I’ve ever done with my kids. Super easy and turns out looking really cool. Who would have thought?! I used blue construction paper (for the blueprint effect) and white paint; use legos like stamps (wash thoroughly after) and let the kids go wild. Tons of fun, and fridge-worthy end products.
- Printing with Nuts, Bolts, & Screws by picklebums: Similar to the above activity, but expanding the “stamp” repertoire by a bit. This one also allows for a wider exploration of color. A great opportunity to discuss what this hardware is used for in building, and (always a win) make cool art.
- Cardboard Tube Construction Toy also by picklebums: Is it STEM, or is it ART? …Let’s just call it STEAM (so edu-trendy)! All you need are a whole-lotta cardboard paper towel or TP rolls, some construction paper, and scissors. Challenge the kids to meet certain height goals. Build away!
S T E M (science. technology. engineering. math.)
I mentioned above that STEM + art are making the movement to merge, which is cool in a lot of ways, and is a result of tons of research that shows that the #1 quality that employers are looking for is c r e a t i v i t y (duh, says the art teacher). I recently went to a brilliant presentation at this year’s National Art Education Association conference in Seattle by Cindy Foley (a great TED talk, if your kids are napping), who politely questions the need for art to conform to the STEM fields and asks, “Why are we trying so hard to join a club that we already own?” So, as an art educator who appreciates the uniquely important qualities of each field, I keep them separate for the purpose of this blog. Tons of great construction STEM projects, though!
- Straw Bridges by the STEM Laboratory: A great introduction to basic bridge concepts and terminology like truss, arch, and beam, and a low-stakes way for kids to build successful standing structures with simple, lightweight materials like straws and tape. She recommends pairing the project with a bridge book, mentioned in the link.
- Lego Marble Run by Frugal Fun 4 Boys & Girls: We didn’t get to try this my kids would LOVE it! All you need are the regular-sized Legos and pool noodles, cut in half. Add a marble and enjoy hours of entertainment! Start with a simple structure, and add to the level of challenge as you go.
- STEM Shape Strength Challenge by Creekside Learning: A great activity for older kids, this project allows for an introduction to the idea of FORM (an element of design, and the 3-D version of a shape) and can be a conversation starter about which ancient civilizations used columns in their architectural forms. Plus, what kid doesn’t like a good challenge?
- Building with Clothespins & Popsicle Sticks by Community Playthings: These two materials are cheap and relatively accessible, and this building project can be super simple or quite challenging, depending on the child’s age. Tons of bang for your buck!
S E N S O R Y & M O V E M E N T
Especially for the preschool age kiddos, these activities are a must to work into the more traditional learning and focusing times. Here are some favorites from the construction theme:
- Shaving Cream Blocks by Busy Toddler: I just looked at the first picture on this blog post and went for it- so easy! It combines sensory learning with building practice, and can take place in a bin or at bath time! We happen to have these great foam blocks that work really well, but wood or plastic work just fine.
- Dirt Playdough by Frugal Fun 4 Boys & Girls: This could be considered a fun cooking project as well, although obviously the kiddos can’t eat it. I didn’t realize it was so easy to make play dough! And it’s way less gross than the slime fad. Add whatever construction vehicles you have in the toy collection and go to town!
- Construction Movement Cards by royalbaloo.com: Free printables to get your kids moving! Draw from a deck of truck picture cards with prompts like “tip,” “stretch,” and “spin.” This blogger writes, “These cards let kids act out their favorite construction trucks while getting a great brain break.”
- Sand & Rock Sensory Bin by Frogs, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails: Just like it sounds! A way cooler space than the kitchen or playroom floor to push trucks around and engage the littles.
C O O K I N G
This wasn’t a huge week for cooking or baking, but I do have a couple of ideas to share:
- Grape & Marshmallow Toothpick Structures by Paper & Glue: I am a bit embarrassed to admit that we did this with gum drops, but my son LOVED it. And the gummy texture allowed for the toothpicks together really well, but I’m sure grapes and mallows work great, too. This website also has other fun ideas for construction theme.
- “Play with your Food!” I saw a couple of construction-themed party foods on Pinterest and had an idea- Why not take what we already have in the cupboard and let them build! Veggie Straws become 2x4s, grapes become boulders, cubed cheese becomes bricks! Let your (and your kids’) imagination guide you!
F I E L D T R I P S
Construction week is a great time to save $$$ on field trip entrance fees, because there aren’t any! Scope out the neighborhood or city for construction sites (Seattle is full of ‘em) or hit up a friend or family member (someone must know someone who works in construction, right?) and visit a jobsite for some real-life, observational learning about the construction field. My husband works for a design-build firm called Momentum Builds, so the boys and I brought lunch to Dad one day and he gave us a tour. We also kept our eyes on a residential build in our neighborhood and periodically took walks to check out the progress, all throughout the summer.
If you’re in Washington, the Lakeside Industries Field Trip Program is a cool program that was designed to educate young people and provide hands-on learning about job opportunities in the construction field. “We are a full-service asphalt paving contractor with 18 asphalt plants, experienced paving crews, state-of-the-art equipment, and full trucking capabilities. From that process we have total control over our operations, delivering a high-quality product and exceptional service.” Schedule a learning tour for your construction enthusiast!
Dozer Day Seattle happens in early June in Seattle, and if you incorporate this cool event into Construction Week for your kids, you will be the coolest parent of all time. At Dozer Days, kids get to drive real life construction vehicles alongside a professional operator! Dreams coming true! Proceeds also benefit certain charities. If you can’t make it, this website offers some cool videos for your viewing pleasure.
Have fun with this great theme of C O N S T R U C T I O N !
