Back to Activities
Building
90 minutes (over multiple sessions)
Collaborative small groups
Our Town Model
Week 4 Activity - Detailed Instructions
Learning Objectives
- Students will identify important places in their community
- Students will work together to create a 3D representation
- Students will understand spatial relationships and community layout
Materials Needed
- Large cardboard base
- Various sized boxes and containers
- Construction paper
- Tape and glue
- Markers and crayons
- Small toy cars and people
- Natural materials (twigs, rocks, etc.)
Preparation Steps
- 1Collect boxes and building materials in advance
- 2Take photos of local community places for reference
- 3Prepare a simple map of the local area
- 4Set up a large workspace for the model
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Begin by discussing important places in your community
2
Show photos and maps of local area
3
Assign different groups to create different community places
4
Provide boxes and materials for building structures
5
Help students label their buildings
6
Work together to arrange buildings on the base
7
Add roads, parks, and other community features
8
Use small figures to show people using community spaces
Assessment
- Observe students' knowledge of local community places
- Note collaboration and problem-solving skills
- Document understanding of spatial relationships
- Assess ability to represent 3D concepts
Teaching Tips
- Start with the most familiar places (school, homes, stores)
- Encourage creativity in building design
- Take progress photos throughout the building process
- Display the completed model prominently
Extension Activities
Additional ways to extend and enrich this learning experience
- 1Take walking tours to see the real places represented
- 2Add seasonal decorations to the model throughout the year
- 3Create stories about characters living in the model town
- 4Compare your town model to other communities