What you need
In addition to choice from the general resources:
- a selection of fabric
- flags
- flagpoles or sticks
- oars or resources to represent them
Ideas for presentation
- a letter or problem card in the brick area
- recorded on a talking tin or postcard, dictaphone or recordable photograph album
WHAT TO DO
1. Talk about the problem with the children, listening to their suggestions and solutions to the problem or challenge.
2. Talk about the best things to use for a big construction, and what else they need.
3. Let the children decide whether to work alone, in pairs or as a group, and allow time to select from the resources in the construction area or recycled materials.
4. Stay near as you can to support their work as they build. This scale of construction is complex and may need some help, but don't offer it until they ask!
5. Give plenty of time for children to experiment and play in the boats they have constructed.
Useful vocabulary
- size
- base
- sides
- shape
- bow
- stern
- mast
- attach
- sail
- rope
- support
- stand
- hoist
- oars
- flag
- flagpole
- seats
TAKING IT FURTHER
- Design or draw the boat before starting to build it.
- Photograph the process and the finished boats.
THEN YOU COULD
Introduce further activities using large or open-ended materials for construction, to make:
- an aeroplane to hold four children
- a train to hold five children
- a bus to hold lots of children
- a space rocket to hold three children.
AND ANOTHER THING
Offer children a variety of construction, den-making and physical resources, including natural materials.
'We need to protect these seeds from the birds. How could we do it?'
'Please make a sign to say it's cold outside and everyone needs to wear their coat.'
Taken from Problem Solving - Ideas and activities to unlock current topics by Margaret Martin (Featherstone Education, £11.99). To order a copy, tel: 0185 888 1212; fax: 0185 888 1360 or visit www.featherstone.uk.com.