Materials
Hammer
Nails
Piece of soft wood
Toothpicks
Styrofoam balls
Cork
Glue
Plastic hammers
Miscellaneous materials such as pipe cleaners, parts of old toys, buttons, empty spools,
Styrofoam packaging, and bottlecaps
Paint and paintbrushes
Glitter
Instructions
What to do
1. Demonstrate how to safely hammer a nail into wood. While an adult holds the nail, let the children
practice hammering it into a piece of soft wood.
2. When you are ready to begin the project, supply the children with toothpicks, styrofoam balls,
and pieces of cork.
3. Invite the children to build their own structure by connecting the balls and cork with glue,
toothpicks, and nails.
4. Encourage the children to use the remaining materials to decorate or supplement their design.
5. Ask the children to name their project.
6. Display the projects in an exhibit.
More to do
Cooking: Build a structure with graham crackers and cake frosting.
Dramatic play: Supply a few props and invite the children to pretend they are at a construction
site. Play with building blocks.
Language: Have the children compose a story or narrate a description of their structure, monument,
or invention. Record their words on paper or videotape.
