This unit is about building and measuring! Kids simply love building and the No Ends toys allow the kids to build large scale projects in minutes.
Decorating the classroom/props:
I go to Home Depot and buy some of the orange construction fencing to encircle the building area in the class.
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Outfits: I was given orange construction vests (like the ones you see on the highway). If I did not have those vests I would have the kids wear the orange aprons that Home Depot gives the kids during their Saturday programs. I’ll bet that if you call your local Home Depot and tell them what you are doing they will gladly give you the orange aprons. I also have hardhats for the kids to wear. These were not cheap but I could not resist! I have a “foreman” in each group who gets to wear an orange hard hat.
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Field trip:
Our field trip for this unit is meeting at our local Home Depot for their free Saturday Kids Workshop. Call your local Home Depot to see if they run the program.
Music:
I gave up trying to find construction music so I just play the Big Chill Soundtrack during this unit. The parents sure do love it!
Construction Morning Work:
Simply copy the construction vocabulary words on the lines below. The kids do this assignment first thing in the morning while everyone is arriving.
Measuring with Measuring Tapes
Each child is given a measuring tape (free at ikea), try to find ones without cm’s. You list a number of objects for the kids to measure throughout the classroom such as trash cans, chairs, pencils, etc...
Building with No Ends
No Ends building tools are a great hands on experience for the kids. I have them work as a team to build a different project each day. On the first day I will allow them to build anything they want. They usually don’t make anything with much form or function. I will then teach them what a foundation is and expect them to build a foundation with the straight pieces and then build up from there. Some of the projects I will have them do are Skyscrapers, hospitals, schools, cages (for the parents)...
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Listening Center/Reading Circle
There are some really cute books about Construction including a great series of TONKA books and Home Depot books and there are tons of great books about big trucks.
Community People/Road Signs on the Table
The students write the names of the road signs next to the corresponding numbers on the table. I will also use plastic tools and community member figures for this station.
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“Dumptruck” game
We play a game called “Dumptruck” with Rummy Tiles. Each student takes 7 tiles and tries to make a math fact (2+2=4, 3+4=7) and place it in front of them.
The object is to get rid of all your tiles by making math facts.
Construction Floor Puzzles:
The kids do construction theme floor puzzles as a group.
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