The Block Building Show and Tell is a wonderful activity that merges the creativity of block building with the art of storytelling. It's perfect for encouraging self-expression, imagination, and communication skills in children. Here’s how you can organize this engaging event:
Materials Needed
- A variety of building blocks (like bricks, wooden blocks, magnetic blocks, etc.)
- A designated area for each child to build and display their creation
- Optional: Props for storytelling (like mini-figures or additional craft materials)
Step 1: Set the Scene
- Introduction: Explain to the children that they will be creating their own scenes or structures with blocks and then sharing a story about their creation.
- Creative Freedom: Encourage them to think creatively, whether they want to build something realistic, fantastical, abstract, or narrative-based.
Step 2: Building Time
- Start Building: Give the children ample time to build their creations. This could be during a single session or over several days.
- Provide Assistance: Offer help and encouragement as needed, but allow the children to lead their own projects.
Step 3: Story Development
- Encourage Storytelling: As kids build, encourage them to think about the story behind their creation. Who lives there? What happens there? Why did they choose to build this?
- Practice Storytelling: Give them time to practice telling their story, either quietly to themselves or to a friend or adult.
Step 4: Show and Tell Session
- Gather Together: Once everyone is ready, bring the group together for the show and tell.
- Presentations: Allow each child to present their creation and share their story. Encourage respect and attention from the audience.
- Questions and Feedback: After each presentation, you can allow time for the audience to ask questions or offer positive feedback.
Step 5: Awards and Recognition
- Certificates or Stickers: Provide certificates, stickers, or small prizes for participation, creativity, best story, most unique design, etc.
- Group Photo: Consider taking a group photo of all the children with their creations.
Step 6: Reflection
- Discuss the Experience: Talk about what they enjoyed, what they found challenging, and what they learned about storytelling and building.
Step 7: Clean-Up
- Make cleaning up part of the activity, encouraging teamwork and organization.
Optional Extensions
- Themed Challenges: Introduce themes for the building project, like space exploration, underwater worlds, or fantasy kingdoms.
- Extended Projects: For older kids, consider making this a multi-day project, allowing them to develop more intricate builds and stories.
- Public Showcase: Organize a mini-exhibition where parents and other classes can view the creations and hear the stories.
Block Building Show and Tell is not just a fun activity but a powerful tool for cognitive and social-emotional development, fostering creativity, narrative skills, and public speaking in a supportive, playful environment.
See our range of Wooden Blocks for Building Block Show and Tell
