Activity Setup & Prompt
- Place a tray of notched cardboard shapes at each station (mix of sizes + shapes).
- Clear the tabletop so kids have room to build “up,” not just “out.”
- Show 2–3 quick ways to connect pieces:
- Slide one notch into another to make an “X”
- Make a base with two wide pieces
- Add a “bridge” piece across two supports
- Share the big idea: “We’re building abstract sculptures—no right answer. Try, adjust, rebuild.”
Skills & Learning Focus
- Engineering & Spatial Thinking: balancing, stabilizing, and building structures that stand.
- Fine Motor Control: aligning notches, gentle pressure, careful placement.
- Problem Solving & Persistence: testing connections, redesigning when it falls, trying again.
- Design & Composition: exploring height, negative space, symmetry/asymmetry, repetition.
- Creative Confidence: making choices without a “picture to copy.”
- Collaboration & Sharing: trading pieces, building together, describing what you notice.
Cleanup & Reset
- Announce: “Sculptures come down in 2 minutes—let’s take a final look first!”
- Have kids disassemble (no yanking): pull pieces apart slowly at the notches.
- Sort pieces back into the bin/trays (optional: quick “big / small” sort to reset faster).
- Stack trays neatly and clear any scraps/dust from the tables.