Songs

 

1. Construction Song - sung to "The Farmer in the Dell"

The backhoe scoops the dirt.

The backhoe scoops the dirt.

Hey-ho! Look at it go!

The backhoe scoops the dirt.

Each time the song is repeated, replace the line with one of the following:

The dozer moves the dirt.

The loader dumps the dirt.

The dump truck bumps away.

The cement mixer spins.

The crane moves up and down.

2. Construction Worker Song

This is the way we pound our nails,

pound our nails, pound our nails,

This is the way we pound our nails, so early in the morning.

This is the way we saw our wood,

Waw our wood, saw our wood.

This is the way we saw our wood, so early in the morning.

This is the way we use a screwdriver,

use a screwdriver, use a screwdriver,

This is the way we use a screwdriver, so early in the morning.

This is the way we drill a hole,

drill a hole, drill a hole,

This is the way we drill a hole, so early in the morning.

3. Build a House

Build a house up, build it high,

Point the chimney to the sky,

See the roof,

See the floor,

See a little yellow door.

 

Crafts

 

1. Popsicle Stick Buildings

Discuss the properties of buildings: sides, roofs, doors, windows, etc. Show them pictures of different kinds of buildings. Have the children glue popsicle sticks onto paper to make building shapes.

2. Bulldozer Art

Have the children pretend to be bulldozers while they paint. Supply each child with a piece of finger-paint paper, finger paint, and a wide craft stick. Have each child choose several colors of finger paint to put on the paper. Show the children how to place the craft stick horizontally on the paper and push the paint--like a bulldozer! While the children work, encourage them to talk with you about their creations. Help them recognize that they are pushing the paint with the craft stick much like a bulldozer pushes dirt with its blade.

3. Tool Box

Give each child a Kleenex box and cover it with paper. Cut out tools from magazines and have them decorate their tool box.

4. Tools

Cut out tool patterns from cardboard and have children paint them. Add tools to tool box.

5. Class House

Make the shape of a house on a large piece of paper. Cut out bricks, shingles, etc from construction paper. Then let your children work as a group to finish the house. Don't forget to have them to add windows and doors.

 

Circle Activities

 

1. The Three Little Pigs

Tell the story of the three little pigs and bring in straw, sticks and some bricks so the children can see the differences of all three materials.

2. Johnny's Hammers

Verse One: (Make hamering motion with one fists)

Johnny had one hammer, one hammer, one hammer

Johnny had one hammer then he had Two

Verse Two: (Make hammering motion with both fists)

Johnny had two hammers, two hammers, two hammers,

Johnny had two hammers then he had Three.

Verse Three: (Make motion with both fists and one leg.)

Johnny had three hammers, three hammers, three hammers,

Johnny had three hammers then he had Four

Verse Four: (Make motion with both fists and both legs)

Johnny had four hammers, four hammers, four hammers,

Johnny had four hammers then he had Five

Verse Five: (Make motion with both fists and both legs and head.)

Johnny had five hammers, five hammers, five hammers

Johnny had five hammers, then he went to sleep (lay hands like sleeping)

Use the Children’s name at your circle with this song.

3. Tools

Using toy tools introduce the tools and what they are used for.

4. Trucks

Using toy construction trucks introduce the trucks and what they do.

5.  I Love Blocks

Bring some blocks to circle and have children build towers with blocks. As they are building there towers sing this song. (Tune: Three Blind Mice)

I love Blocks, I love blocks

See how they stack, see how they stack.

I love to stack them way up high.

I love to stack them oh so tall.

Oh oh watch them fall.

I love blocks, I love blocks.

 

Stories

 

1. Big Yellow Trucks and Diggers: Colors.

Simple text and illustrations introduce the colors of equipment and other things found at a construction site.

2. Digger man by Andrea Zimmerman & David Clemesha

A young boy imagines how he will use his digger to make a park where he and his little brother can play.

3. The lot at the end of my block by Kevin Lewis

A cumulative story about the construction of a building, beginning with an empty lot at the end of the block and ending with a new house and neighbors.

4. This is the house that Jack built by Simms Taback

5. Construction zone by Tana Hoban

Photographs illustrate the kinds of equipment and earthmovers found at construction sites.

6. At a construction site by Don Kilby

7. Let's try it out with towers and bridges by Seymour Simon and Nicole Fauteux

"Hands-on early-learning science activities"

 

General Activities

 

1. Dramatic Play

Supply plastic tools, hardhats, small tape measure, levels, plastic goggles, hang yellow & black construction tape around the block area; hang constructions signs: "Construction Zone" "Hardhat Area", etc. 

2. Construction Site

Add bulldozers, dump trucks, loaders, shovels, rakes, plastic people, cars, trucks to the sand box for more creative fun! 

3. Fort

Make a fort using many blankets.

4. Hammer & Nails

Supply large styrofoam blocks, golf tees and plastic hammers.

5. Blocks

Have available a variety of different blocks.