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| I need some ideas | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 8 2007, 11:32 AM (338 Views) | |
| Post #1 Oct 8 2007, 11:32 AM |
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| My son's Kindergarten class plans on having various occupations come in to talk to the class and describe what they do. I'd like to come in and do one for architecture/engineering. Any ideas for what to talk about and possible short and fun activities? |
Civilian
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| Post #2 Oct 8 2007, 02:30 PM |
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| You could take in some Lincoln logs or Legos to build things with. |
Civilian
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| Post #3 Oct 8 2007, 07:00 PM |
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Dang it! You stole my idea. |
Administrator
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| Post #4 Oct 8 2007, 08:46 PM |
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Using blocks that rate to already be in the classroom, you can put the kids in groups of three and see which group can build the tallest tower before it falls down. You can bring in three or four differnt buildings made from things like toilet paper rolls or paper towel centers, straws etc and have the kids vote on which they think can stand up to the most blocks put on top of them without breaking. |
Civil Servant
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| Post #5 Oct 25 2007, 01:58 PM |
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Just got back from my presentation at my son's Kindergarten class. It went pretty well. I sat in a rocking chair while all the kids sat on the floor around me. I briefly spoke about what architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers do/what they're responsible for/that sort of thing. That took about 10 minutes. Most of the kids paid close attention and were eager to answer my questions. My activity was a big hit. The kids never saw paper so big (it was only 21"x15") and were ooohing and ahhhing. The paper was a title block with a front building elevation minus all of the doors and windows. I precut all of the doors and windows and had the kids glue them on the building. And the piece de resistance was a school mascot logo to use as their "engineer stamp". The kids then colored the building and drew in some "landscape architecture" to finish off the activity. Good thing my talk only lasted 10 minutes because the kids needed a full 20 minutes to do the activity. I gave each kid a ForestAnimalsA/E.com pencil as a going away gift. Kids get so excited for free stuff. They'll make good engineers when they grow up. They already appreciate free goodies. |
Civilian
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| Post #6 Oct 25 2007, 07:33 PM |
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See-- you didn't need any help from us after all! Your idea was way cool! Letting them glue on the doors and windows is more creative and gives them a better idea of what you do than Legos would have! I am so impressed! (Besides, I didn't have any better ideas either.) What did the teacher say? I bet she was impressed, too. She probably asked you to come in more often. ;) |
Civilian
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| Post #7 Oct 25 2007, 07:53 PM |
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She thanked me for coming in. I know that one child's parent is a doctor and she came in with her stethoscope and otoscope. I couldn't be outdone by that. The school also has had some fire fighters and police officers come in too. I knew I wanted to keep things simple. Other people I spoke with came up with the lego idea too, but I felt that it didn't explain what architects and engineers do. I started off by asking the kids how a building (like their school) gets built. They talked about using bricks to build walls, putting a roof on top, that sort of thing. But then I asked them, "How do the the builders know where to build the walls and how tall they need to be? How do the builders know to make the walls out of brick and not wood?" That seemed to pique their interest. On a side note, last fall, I gave a presentation to some high school students who expressed an interest in architecture/engineering. They're a LOT harder to impress. I think a lot of the humor I used in my Powerpoint presentation went over their heads. |
Civilian
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2:45 PM Feb 6