Integrate STEM, Writing, and Literacy in your classroom!
Engage students with a real world STEM activity where they learn about how engineering and architecture work. Students imagine what it would be like to design and build their own school!
The Engineering Design Process:
In this STEM activity, students receive instructions to imagine how they would build their own school. They follow the six step Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Experiment, Improve.
Connect to a Read Aloud: If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen
This STEM Project is a companion activity to If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen. It's an amazing book to engage student imagination about how they would build a school.
Writing Extension:
After completing the STEM project, a writing activity is included for students to write about the school they designed and built.
Aligns to Common Core and NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)!
Option 1 Material List:
- Straws
- Tape
- Scissors
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, and Markers
- If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen (Recommended)
Option 2 Material List:
- Straws and Connectors
- Scissors
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, and Markers
- If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen (Recommended)
Includes:
- Teacher Instructions (with example photos)
- Student STEM Journal
- Student Instructions (2 Options)
- Vocabulary Words
- Engineering Design Process Worksheets
- Writing Extension
- CCSS Standards
- NGSS Standards
- Google Classroom Distance Learning Easel Activity Version
This resource is designed for:
Amazing resource for STEM club, STEM teachers, Librarians, Makerspaces, and Elementary Teachers who want to create a hands-on educational environment in their classroom!
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In this exuberant companion to If I Built a Car, a boy fantasizes about his... read more 20 Total
Resources 1 Awards View Text Complexity
Discover Like Books Year Published 2019 Word Count 646
- Curricular Area
- English Language Arts
- STEAM
- Subject Headings
- JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play
- Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
- Stories in rhyme
- Schools--Fiction
- Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
- JUVENILE FICTION / Art & Architecture
- Juvenile Fiction | Art
- Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction
- JUVENILE FICTION / School & Education
- Imagination--Fiction
- Lists With This Book
- Back to School Picture Books
- Sample: Skyline Math Texts
Our Original Resources 4
Created by TeachingBooksMeet-the-Author Recording with Chris Van Dusen about If I Built a School
Created by TeachingBooksAudio Name Pronunciation with Chris Van Dusen
Created by TeachingBooksStory Map Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooksSubmit Qualitative Text Complexity Rubric
About the Author 4
Chris Van Dusen page on TeachingBooks
View the PagePersonal Website for Chris Van Dusen
View the WebsiteBlog for Chris Van Dusen
Visit the BlogCreated by TeachingBooksAudio Name Pronunciation with Chris Van Dusen
Author Interviews 8
Created by TeachingBooks
Meet-the-Author Recording with Chris Van Dusen
Created by Texas Bluebonnet Award Texas Bluebonnet Award acceptance speech by Chris Van Dusen
Created by Texas Bluebonnet Award Interview with Chris Van Dusen
Created by We Are Teachers Interview with Chris
Van Dusen
Created by Candlewick Press Interview with Chris Van Dusen
Created by Reading Rockets Interview with Chris Van Dusen
Created by Mackin Community Interview with Chris Van Dusen
Created by Art of the Picture Book Interview with Chris Van Dusen
Book Guides, Activities & Lessons 6
Created by TeachingBooksStory Map Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by Raising Readers
Teaching Ideas from Raising Readers
Created by Penguin Classroom Activities from
Penguin Classroom
Created by Reading Power Gear Primary Reading
Response Activity from Reading Power Gear
Created by Reading Power Gear
Intermediate Reading Response Activity from Reading Power Gear
Created by Penguin Classroom
Prompt from Penguin Classroom
Book Trailers 1
Created by Texas Bluebonnet Award Video Book Trailer from Texas Bluebonnet Award
Awards & Distinctions 1
Selection, 2020ILA Children’s Choices Reading List, 2015-2020
Images courtesy of publishers, organizations, and sometimes their Twitter handles.