Building & Making
Grades 1-2
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Opening Procedure (5-7 minutes)
PEP-UP: Bholu Says (3-4 min)
1. Children stand at their benches.
2. The facilitator gives actions beginning with Bholu Says.
3. Children only do the action if they hear Bholu Says.
4. Examples: Bholu Says touch your nose, Bholu Says hop twice, Turn around. (Don't do it!.
NORMS (30 seconds):
1. Share the pieces.
2. Take turns.
3. Be kind.
4. Do not break each other's builds.
More Pep-up Options
2/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Session Name
Make Something!
Age Group
Ages 6-8
Session Intention
Children build with construction kits and take on small challenges together.
Materials Needed
- Super Architect / Lego (2)
- Jodo Blocks (1)
- Jodo Straws (1)
- Jumbo Blocks (1)
- Jenga (1)
- Mechanix Plastic (2)
- Mechanix Basic (1)
- Mechanix Beginner Assortment (3)
Classroom Arrangement
1. Form groups of 4-6.
2. Give each group a construction kit, tipped out in their space.
3. Building happens at benches or a cleared space between the benches.
1/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Play Time (~25-28 minutes)
FREE BUILD (8 min):
1. Distribute materials to the groups and children to build anything they want.
2. Walk around for the first 5 minutes without interrupting.
THE CHALLENGE (after free building):
1. Build the tallest freestanding tower you can.
2. Now rebuild it using only 15 pieces.
3. Balance a pencil on top.
YOUR ROLE DURING PLAY:
1. Encourage groups to help each other.
2. If a build fails, ask the children what else they can try to make their build work.
STEP IN WHEN NEEDED:
1. A group splits up - it's fine; let them build their own parts.
2. Material shortage - ask groups to share or simplify their designs.
What You May Notice
1. Children often get more creative as time goes on. Give them enough time to build.
2. Some groups divide the work naturally. Others build together. Both work.
3. Expect materials to get mixed up. That is fine.
3/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Closing (~3-5 minutes)
1. Call out when the last 5 minutes remain.
2. Each group shares their build in one sentence.
3. Ask the children to pack materials back into the correct boxes.
4. End by asking - What was the hardest part of building today?
Try Next Time
1. Give a timed challenge: build the tallest tower in 8 minutes.
2. Ask groups to recreate each other's builds using the same materials.
3. Try a collaborative build: all groups build one section of a shared structure.