Core Skills Analysis
Mathematics
- He explored shape and space by making concrete forms in bowls and thinking about how they would look and fit in the garden.
- He used early measurement ideas by helping cut leftover fence posts to a needed size.
- He likely practiced comparison and planning when deciding where each block should go outdoors.
- Painting repeated spots on Toad’s face supports pattern recognition and counting-like visual organization.
Science
- He observed a simple change of material from wet concrete to a hard finished object as it dried.
- He experienced a basic engineering process: making, waiting, then using the object in a real setting.
- He considered animal needs by thinking about giving the blocks to chickens as a sunny roosting spot.
- He noticed how the sun and garden environment might affect where the blocks are useful.
Design and Technology
- He helped turn leftover materials into a useful product, showing recycling and purposeful design.
- He took part in making a structure step-by-step: cutting, attaching, painting, and drying.
- He made a design choice by adding a familiar character face, giving the blocks a clear theme and identity.
- He thought about function as well as appearance by planning how the blocks could be placed in the garden.
Art and Language Arts
- He practiced drawing and painting facial features and spots, strengthening fine-motor control and visual detail.
- He used character recognition by identifying and recreating Toad from Mario.
- He made artistic decisions about color, placement, and decoration on the lids.
- He likely discussed plans with an adult, building vocabulary around materials, features, and garden locations.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- He worked collaboratively with dad, showing shared problem-solving and turn-taking.
- He demonstrated persistence by moving from construction to decoration to future placement.
- He showed ownership by deciding where the blocks would go and imagining a use for the chickens.
- His interest in helping and planning suggests pride in making something useful for the home and animals.
Tips
To extend this project, you could invite him to compare the blocks before and after drying, talking about what changed and why. He could help test different spots in the garden and explain which one seems best for sun, shelter, or space. You might also turn it into a mini design challenge by asking him to decorate one block in a different character style or plan a matching set. For a practical science extension, he could observe how water, sunlight, and weather affect the concrete over time, then draw or tell you about his observations.
Book Recommendations
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle: A great choice for discussing patterns, careful observation, and making things step by step.
- Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty: Supports building, designing, and creative problem-solving with hands-on construction ideas.
- Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty: Encourages persistence, invention, and pride in creating useful objects.
Learning Standards
- Math: EYFS / early KS1 shape, space and measure concepts through cutting materials, comparing sizes, and choosing a location.
- Science: Working scientifically by observing materials change as concrete dries and considering environmental conditions like sun and weather.
- Design and Technology: Explore, design, make and evaluate a purposeful object from recycled materials; consider function and appearance.
- Art and Design: Use drawing and painting to add details, express a character, and develop control of tools and materials.
- English: Develop spoken language by explaining choices, describing materials, and discussing plans for the garden.
- PSHE / Personal Development: Collaboration, perseverance, and taking pride in contributing to a shared family project.
Try This Next
- Draw-and-label worksheet: sketch the block, the Toad face, and where it will go in the garden.
- Simple oral quiz: What happened to the concrete as it dried? Why might the chickens use it?
- Writing prompt: 'My block is useful because...'
- Observation chart: track changes in color, dryness, and garden placement over a few days.