Construction Theme
Book List
B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC - June Sobel and Melissa Iwai
Construction Zone - Tana Hoban
Construction Vehicles: Dump Truck - DK Publishing
Songs & Fingerplays
Construction Song - sung to "The Farmer in The Dell"
The backhoe scoops the dirt.
The backhoe scoops the dirt.
Hey-ho! Look at it go!
The backhoe scoops the dirt.
Each time the song is repeated, replace the line with one of the following:
The dozer moves the dirt.
The loader dumps the dirt.
The dump truck bumps away.
The cement mixer spins.
The crane moves up and down.
~Submitted by Cheryl's Sweethearts ChildCare
Arts & Crafts
Dumptrucks
Glue sand onto a dumptruck outline.
Cranes
Find a picture of a crane to colour and cut out. Glue to a large paper. Next glue on a collage of precut sandpaper shapes . Discuss with the child what shapes their crane is going to lift.
Popsicle Stick Buildings
Discuss the properties of buildings: sides, roofs, doors, windows, etc. Show
them pictures of different kinds of buildings asking about the different
types of roofs, etc. Have the children glue popsicle sticks onto paper to
make building shapes. To make smaller sizes let them break them in half. Have
paint and small brushes to let them paint their constructed "buildings."
~Submitted by Cheryl's Sweethearts ChildCare
Construction Art
Have the children pretend to be bulldozers while they paint. Supply each child with a piece of finger-paint paper, finger paint, and a wide craft stick. Have each child choose several colors of finger paint to put on the paper. Show the children how to place the craft stick horizontally on the paper and push the paint--like a bulldozer! While the children work, encourage them to talk with you about their creations. Help them recognize that they are pushing the paint with the craft stick much like a bulldozer pushes dirt with its blade.
~Submitted by Cheryl's Sweethearts ChildCare
In The Kitchen
"Build -a -sandwich"- offer a variety of cut up cold cuts, shredded cheese and lettuce, and mayo with soft buns. The children build their own submarine style sandwiches.
"Gravel" - applesauce with granola mixed in.
"Dirt Pudding" - chocolate pudding topped with crushed chocolate cookies.
Square Jello jiggler "blocks"
"Cement mixer smoothies"- make a smoothie or milkshake in a blender . Talk about cement mixers
Theme Ideas
Get actual blueprints and point out to the children the lines on them that
indicate walls, windows, doors, etc. Point out that this is what architects
(new word) use when they are planning buildings before they are built. At the
art table have large pieces of blue paper with white crayons or white colored
pencils and rulers. Let them create their own blueprints.
~Submitted by Cheryl's Sweethearts ChildCare
Tell or read the story of the Three Little Pigs with a flannel board set. Display props such as straw, sticks, and a brick. By touching & handling these materials the children can better understand why bricks are the strongest of these building materials.
~Submitted by Cheryl's Sweethearts ChildCare
Sensory ideas - place sand in your sensory bin along with construction toys. Could also use cornmeal, oatmeal or real mud instead of sand.
Wooden blocks with construction toys/tonka toys.
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