Busy Builders

The Block and Construction Centre provides many learning opportunities for our students.

They learn to:

• experiment with building using a variety of different types of blocks
• fosters co-operative play (planning and problem solving)
• develops gross and fine motor control
• extend imaginative role-play and oral language
• explores math concepts (counting, comparing, estimating, sorting, height, area, measuring space)
• explore scientific concepts (balance, simple machines, structures, design process)

Students bring in a variety of materials and manipulatives into their designs and creations.

• Students have been building baby nurseries, houses, beauty parlors, stoves, garages, helicopters, bridges, transformers, motorcycles, dog houses and the list goes on.

Working Together

In our program, the Early Years Team works each day with the children on their "problem solving" skills. Activities that engage children in problem-solving help them to identify and set goals and to develop attention and persistence. They also assist children in developing flexibility in thinking and to begin to recognise and reflect on consequences and relationships of cause and effect. Importantly, success in finding solutions helps children gain confidence in themselves as individuals, social beings and learners.

Building with blocks is always a popular center that shows students' ability to work together, sharing materials and solving construction problems.

 Faith started to build this "Rocket ship" by herself but welcomed Brooklyn and Kyra when they wanted to help her.

Students in Mrs. Taylor's class designed a bus and went on an adventure around town!!!

The students collaboratively created a parking garage on one of our tree stumps.

Another example that emphaizes the importance of teamwork and problem solving is the Lassi Table.

There is a writing table in each classroom where the students will find a variety of writing materials.  This picture shows students designing and writing Valentine's Day cards.  Often, students will ask each other for correct spelling or use word cards.

Taking turns while playing games helps to teach cooperation. Students are also learning to develop good communication skills as they discuss whose turn it is and the matches that they have found in their cards.

Students here are learning to work together as a group to create patterns.  They engage in math talk with each other as they explain their thinking.

 Students here are working together to figure out how to measure some snakes.

Tower Inquiry

After putting out the straws and connectors, we noticed that the students were interested in building a large tower.  Aidan looked at the instruction sheet and decided that he wanted to follow the diagram to make the Eiffel Tower.

After several attempts and much frustration, we devised a new plan.  We looked at a variety of different towers on the internet, and we checked out books from the library.  We talked about what we noticed in the designs of the towers.... the shapes, the patterns....

The students then decided to try again, but this time they wanted to draft pictures of their own towers and then begin construction.

 Referring to a picture in a book during construction.

 This student was excited to show us her dress with the Eiffel Tower on it.

 The students worked cooperatively to build this tower.  They are all so proud.

After how many links tall the tower is, we measured it together.  We were surprised to find out it is only 67 links tall.  Most of us estimated 100.  We will be measuring it with other manipulatives in the classroom this week and we will also be using a measuring tape as suggested by some students.