tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post3088865053575085796..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Their Own Way To Play TogetherTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-6909148312395437822014-01-02T13:41:31.520-08:002014-01-02T13:41:31.520-08:00Last school year and the year before that I taught...Last school year and the year before that I taught a blockbuilding class to homeschool students. Most of my students were in the 5-7 year old age range, although I did have some 8-10 and a few 12-14 year old boys (in a sculpture class who spotted the tubs of blocks and begged to use them). One thing that I think inspired building and constructing were a variety of blocks, books, and props which were rotated. I had plastic animals, Beanie Babies, and mirrors for props. I had unit blocks, Kapla style plank blocks, wooden one inch cubes, Roylco Straws and Connectors, and dominoes. I think looking at interesting architectural structures in non-ficition and fiction stories sparked a lot of interest. At one point we even viewed the video of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsing in 1936. So perhaps if you had some architecturally themed story time books like: Iggy Peck Architect, Roxaboxen, A House is a House for Me, Roberto the Insect Architect, 13 Buildings Children Should Know you might stimulate some interest in those off years, as well as in the years kids gravitate to the building center. I also take a lot of photos of student creations to record the temporary nature of block structures. I do know that when you can leave them up it can become an ongoing project, but sadly...most of us have to clean up and put blocks away daily. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com