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Session 03: Building Basics

Overview

Grade: Kindergarten | Duration: 25 minutes | Session: 3 of 17

Students explore basic building concepts, learning that engineers design and build things that help people.

Session 03: Building Basics

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand that engineers build things to help people

  • Stack blocks to build a tall tower

  • Learn from "failures" (things that fall down)

  • Practice persistence when building

Materials Needed

  • 📦 KEVA Planks (from CSCOE library) OR wooden blocks

  • 📏 "Measure stick" (craft stick for height comparison)

  • 📷 Pictures of tall buildings

  • 🖍️ Wonder Journals and crayons

  • 📋 Tower Challenge chart (1st try, 2nd try, 3rd try)

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Joseph the Worker — Jesus's foster father was a carpenter who built things with his hands!

Scripture

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." — Psalm 127:1

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for people who build things that help us. Help us learn to build with patience and kindness. Bless our hands as we work today. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (4 minutes)

  1. Wonder Song
  2. Show Pictures — Tall buildings, bridges, houses
  3. "Who builds these things?" (Engineers, builders, architects)
  4. "Why do people build things?" (To help others!)
  5. Today's Challenge — "We're going to be builders!"

Main Activity: Tower Challenge (15 minutes)

Part 1: Free Exploration (3 minutes)

  • Give each pair a pile of KEVA Planks or blocks

  • "See what you can build!"

  • Let students explore freely

Part 2: Tower Challenge (10 minutes)

  • "Now let's see how TALL we can build!"

  • Challenge: Build a tower that stands by itself

  • When towers fall:

  • "What happened? What can we try differently?"
  • "Engineers try again and again!"

  • Celebrate learning from "failures"

  • Use measure stick to compare heights

Part 3: Celebrate & Clean (2 minutes)

  • Count: "How many blocks in your tallest tower?"

  • Careful cleanup together

Wonder Journal (3 minutes)

  1. Draw your tower
  2. Circle: 😊 (easy) or 😤 (tricky) or 🎉 (proud)

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Share — What made building tricky? What helped?
  2. Connection — "St. Joseph built things to help his family!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for hands that can build and minds that can solve problems. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Attempted to stack blocks

  • Tried again after blocks fell

  • Cooperated with partner

  • Participated in reflection

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Use larger blocks

  • Build together with teacher support

  • Focus on 3-block tower success

For Advanced Students

  • Challenge: Build something specific (house, bridge)

  • Use only one hand

  • Count blocks and compare quantities

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Build towers at home using household items (boxes, plastic cups, blocks). How tall can you build before it falls? Talk about why some things stack better than others.

Teacher Notes

  • "Failure" is reframed as LEARNING in engineering

  • Use encouraging language: "Your tower is teaching you something!"

  • Reserve KEVA Planks from CSCOE Library 2 weeks in advance

Previous: Session 02 — God's Amazing World
Next: Session 04 — Colors & Light