So there I was having to think fast on my feet - not a good thing to at this
time in the year. It was going to be the last class for my first graders,
but I wanted to do something fun, yet constructive. I didn't want to pull
out markers and paper and say, "have at it." They would drive me nuts!
So I gave each table (my students are put in groups of 3-4) a different
material such as legos, blocks, sponges (cool ones I got from the state
conference), a deck of cards. Each table had to work as a group to build a
house. Houses had to have a roof and a door. I gave them about twenty
minutes. Afterwards we went around and "critiqued" each house - what went
well, what was the hardest part (they were first graders). To give them
something to strive for, I told them that the most interesting house would
receive a prize. Well, of course they all were interesting and got a prize.
:) We learned so much that class - about materials, house construction,
working together as a team. Funny how our "lightbulbs" click on the at the
most unusual moments!
