Activity Plan 4-5: Have a Block Party!

The blocks may be limited - but not the possibilities - with this interesting block-building activity!

• PRINT
• EMAIL

Ready-To-Use Teaching Ideas: Problem Solving

Materials:

• wooden unit blocks
• block-building props: animals, cars, people, and so on
• paper
• tape
• markers and crayons
• camera

Objective: Children will develop social, problem-solving, math, and language skills using a specific number of blocks to build a structure.

ACTIVITY

1. Explain to children that they will work with a partner to create a building using 20 blocks. Also explain that they can use any type of blocks that they choose as long as they use only 20 blocks.
2. Depending on the size of your block area, divide four to six children into pairs. Ask each team to create their building.
3. After children have finished their buildings, encourage them to create signs or pictures for their block creations and to add different props to their structures. Then ask them to show their completed buildings to the class.
4. Ask each pair to describe their building. Encourage the other children to ask questions to learn how their classmates came up with their ideas. Children can explain any problems that occurred and tell why they chose certain sizes and shapes. Model questions if children are unable to think of any. Ask children to notice the similarities and differences between the different buildings.
5. Photograph each team's building to document the work. Invite children to use wooden people, animals, cars, and other props. Later, encourage children to create stories that involve their block buildings. Print children's stories on chart paper. Display the stories in the block area near children's block creations.

Curriculum Connection: WRITING

Make a Book: Create a book or wall display to document the activity. Invite each team to write or dictate information about their building and include it with the photograph. Ask the children to assist with creating a description of the activity and a summary.

Risa Young is the former director of two early childhood programs in the New York City area, the Children's Aid Society's Greenwich Village Center and the Innovative Learning Center at the Long Island College Hospital. She has been a consultant to Early Childhood Today for more than eight years.

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