Project theme: Bridges

  

     It all started with these structures.  I had a group of four students who spent every day in the block area.  They built some amazing structures, but I could not entice them to explore other areas of the classroom.

     My co-teacher and I started by enhancing the block area with books, patterns on the floor, and some larger ramps that a parent made for us.  (Ramp project from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/Ramps_Pathways.pdf)   This enhanced building area inspired the children to want to learn more about building.  I noticed them taking out the books and attempting to build some of the bridges in the books.

     After a few days, one of the children came to me and told me about a bridge near his house.  He asked if we could take the whole class to see a bridge.  We decided to bring it up during our morning circle.  This little guy, who typically had a difficult time participating during circle, shared his idea for a field trip during the morning circle and it was met with great enthusiasm.

     Over the new few days, we planned our trip and the kids decided that we would need a camera to document the experience.  This turned out to be a great idea.  The kids took some wonderful pictures.

    We took these pictures and posted them in the building areas and art areas for inspiration.  As a class, we then determined what materials we needed to add to our interest centers to explore the topic further.  I did supply some of the material ideas, but the children developed a pretty comprehensive list before I added to it.

Interest Center Materials

Blocks

Add flat plank material, vary length and width

Add string, bendable wire and tape (this could possible spark ideas suspension and/or draw bridges, as well as how to keep the bridge together)

Print some pictures of interesting bridges made of different material, also more technical engineer pictures that show the details of the bridges components

Trucks and cars

Plastic or wooden people

Train set

Literacy Center

Add print material about bridges:

Pictures
Drawings
Fictional books
Non-fictional books
Science and technical diagrams of bridges

Book examples:

The Bridge Book
By Carter, Polly

Bridges
By Richardson, Joy

Bridges
By Orlade, Chris

Bridges: Amazing Structures to Design Build andTeach
By Johnman, Carol A.

Bridges are to Cross
By Sturges, Philemon

Famous Bridges: Measuring Heights, Weights, and Volume
By Maxwell, Yolanda

Art Center

Pictures of different bridges built by your students and pictures of real bridges.  This is where starting with a field trip can be helpful.  Children develop questions and learn the answers through hands on projects and research.

Print material or books similar to what was placed in the block center or literacy center

Opportunities to draw models of bridges:

Graph paper
Charcoal pencils
Erasers
T-rulers
Compass

Opportunities to build bridges from various materials in the art area

Clay
Wood
Paper
Toothpicks
Popsicle sticks
Tape
Cardboard
Wire (Supervised)
String
Glue

Outside

Larger planks and pieces of wood 

Hardhats

   
   If the project is led by the children, how do we know when a project is done?  You will know a project is complete when the children are no longer excited and/or asking more questions about a topic.  (Or they are demonstrating interest in a new topic)

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