- build
- problem
- solve
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.2: Recall information for short periods of time and retell, act out, or represent information from a text read aloud, a recording, or a video (e.g., watch a video about birds and their habitats and make drawings or constructions of birds and their nests).
Head Start Outcomes:
Logic and Reasoning/Reasoning and Problem Solving: Classifies, compares, and contrasts objects, events, and experiences.
Literacy Knowledge/Book Appreciation and Knowledge: Asks and answers questions and makes comments about print materials.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 12: Listen to, recite, sing, and dramatize a variety of age-appropriate literature.
Watch Together: “Chirp Builds a Nest” #1 (PEEP show)
STEM Key Concepts: How you design and build a structure helps determine how strong it will be; Different materials are useful for making different structures and different parts of structures
ELA Focus Skills: Active Listening, Active Viewing, Story Comprehension, Vocabulary
Before You Watch
Tell children that they are going to watch a show about building a nest. Introduce the PEEP and the Big Wide World show “Chirp Builds a Nest.” Remind children of what they know about the characters. Set a listening focus for children. Say, Chirp wants to build a nest because he thinks it will help him fly. Watch how Chirp builds his nest.
As You Watch
Model active viewing—name the characters, describe the action, and repeat any featured words.
After You Watch
Talk about the video with children. Ask children to recall some of the problems Peep and Chirp had to help children make connections to their own experiences.
- What were some of the problems Chirp had when she was building the nest? What problems do Peep and Chirp have with the sticks? What do they do to solve the problem?
- Did you have any of the same problems when you built your tower? What did you do to solve them?
- How is Chirp’s nest like the towers you built? How do they look similar? Different?
Adaptation: If very young children have trouble concentrating during the video and song, replay the video again and pause to review the action.
Social Emotional Tip: Talk with children about how Chirp felt building something for the first time. Encourage children to compare their experiences building their towers to Chirp’s experience. For example, say, Chirp wanted to build the nest by herself at first, but then she needed help. How did Chirp and Peep work together to build Chirp’s nest? How did you work together to build towers? Why do you think it’s important to have help when you’re building something new?
Educator Tip: Watching and discussing the selected PEEP stories and live-action video clips can spark and extend children’s interest and understanding of building structures. We suggest that children watch the videos after they have had an opportunity to do their own initial exploration of the building structures. That way your children can compare their experiences and discoveries with those shown on the video and think about what additional explorations they might like to try when building structures.
