Three Pigs Construction

 

This was so much for me and my students.  I loved seeing the excitement in my students to build and work with shapes in these activities.  We started the week reading The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall. 

  We used the book with vocabulary and focused on character traits.  After reading several times, students sorted the character traits cards. We created this anchor chart together during this activity.

  

This week I brought in a tool box so that the students could see and explore some of the tools. We did this whole group and safely.  Next year I would like to have some screws for students to use a screwdriver and some nuts and bolts. Towards the end of the week we had a building day.  I asked a local builder for old blueprints.  I put a blueprint on each table.  Students were also supplied with a highlighter and a tool belt filled with shapes that they would use when building houses. The first activity we did was to find shapes in the blueprints with our highlighters. I gave students this task one shape at a time.

 

After this, students were "hired" by the Three Pigs Construction Company to build some houses.  They were given specific instructions and tools to fulfill their building assignments.  The built a "straw" house, a "stick" house and a "brick" house. The students really got into this role playing.

During this week, I continued the building theme in the centers for math and literacy. Here are some sample pictures of these centers.  Next year maybe I can get a builder to come in and talk with my students. 

 

You can find my plans and 3 literacy and 3 math centers along with tool belt instructions and hard hat printable for a day full of building. I give suggestions on how to really make this STEM building activity engaging for your students. This was a big hit with my students and I think it will be a fun engaging day for your students. Here is a link to the resources found in this post.