- blocks and stacking materials (various cardboard boxes, covered plastic containers, blocks, interlocking blocks, etc.)
- drawing materials
- build
- materials
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners during daily routines and play.
MA Draft Standards:
Physical Sciences/Matter and Its Interactions: Structure and Properties of Matter/PS1.A Describe, compare, sort and classify objects based on observable physical characteristics, uses, and whether it is manufactured as part of their classroom play and investigations of the natural and human-made world.
Physical Sciences/Motion and Stability; Forces and Interaction /PS2.C Explore the strength and stability of buildings as they build structures with different materials. [Cause and Effect, Stability and Change]
Head Start Outcomes:
Logic and Reasoning/Reasoning and Problem Solving Classifies, compares, and contrasts objects, events, and experiences.
Science Knowledge/Scientific Skills and Method Observes and discusses common properties, differences, and comparisons among objects.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
Science and Technology/Technology and Engineering 23 Explore and describe a wide variety of natural and man-made materials through sensory experiences.
Science and Technology/Inquiry Skills 4 Record observations and share ideas through simple forms of representation such as drawings.
Explore Together (indoors): Building More Towers
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
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: Listening and Speaking, Vocabulary
Have children explore using different materials to build towers. Set up an area where children can freely explore making towers with the materials. Be sure each child has easy access to them materials.
As children work, encourage them to discuss and try new ways of using the materials to build their towers.
Engage pairs and groups in discussions about what is and isn’t working. Be available to help them problem solve.
Ask questions such as, How can the box shapes be arranged so that they fit together to make a wide floor, or base, for the tower?
Help children notice the different characteristics of the materials and how some materials work better on different parts of the tower, for example wide heavy wooden blocks will work better at the base of the tower than at the top to help keep the tower from toppling over.
Encourage children to talk about what they are noticing and jot down their observations or have them draw observations as they go along.
Reflect and Share
Once children have had time to explore building towers with the new materials, have them share their observations, successes and challenges. Ask questions to help them extend their observations, such as,
- Which materials were more difficult to use? Why? Are there different ways you could have used those materials to make it easier to build your tower?
- How did you use the cardboard boxes differently from how you used the plastic containers? Why?