The kindergarten students not only enjoyed listening to the
story, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, they collaborated to make a
boat for Max.
After listening to the story, I told the students that in
another version of the story, Max’s boat sailed away before he could return
home. I asked for suggestions about how
Max would get home. Some said he could swim home. Others said the Wild Things
would get him. I had to suggest that Max
could build a boat.
Then I explained that they would work with a partner to
build Max a boat. The tools they needed were in a bag. They didn’t have to
use all of the materials, but they would only make one boat with their
partner. I explained that after they
built their boat, we would test it. I told them that we would put the
boats in the ocean to test them. :o They were excited
even after they realized the “ocean” was a plastic container with water in it.
The items in each bag varied slightly.
aluminum foil
modeling clay or Play dough
old cd
drinking straw
foam board (cut into about 4x6 pieces)
foam filler (that came from packaging for Nooks or iPads)
toothpicks
lids from Pringles cans
Students also had access to scissors and a hole punch.
Next time I will include craft sticks, different size lids, and
masking or duct tape. I might also include fabric, string, and/or yarn for a sail.
A few students had to make changes in order for their boat
to float, but they were not discouraged. They were determined to help Max get
home.
Thanks to Mrs. DeWeese’s Kindergarten class at Oak
Grove Elementary for inspiring this activity.
Oak Grove Elementary, Roanoke, VA
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