Designing Hook Experiences

Name: Marissa Zanon, Erik Quillen, Abbey Harnen

Classroom: Explorers

Lesson Overview: How do you anticipate the children will explore with the materials? What do
you think they will do? What COULD happen?

The children will be using the materials to construct structures with various materials. I think
they will construct buildings that are similar to homes and then fill those homes with other
items that are available on the table. They could potentially explore breaking down the
buildings as well using their hands or possibly other materials.

Lesson Plan Objectives: what do I INTEND for the children to explore?

The children are to explore building through multiple forms including construction and
destruction given different materials to work with.

THE HOOK:
Roles/Responsibilities
What are the CHILDREN doing? What is your explorable question? Ideally, children should be
able to loop back to this question in their exploration
● What materials can be used to build a strong structure?
● building structures with various materials

What is the TEACHER doing? How are you asking children to engage with

the explorable question? Write 3 ways to ask: how; what; where)

● HOW: How can we build a sturdy building?

● WHAT: What materials could we use to make the strongest building?
● WHERE: Where can we find strong materials for our building?

How are you DOCUMENTING? What tools are you using for documenting the experience?
● Photos/Videos
● Anecdotal notes
THE BAIT:
The NEW
● What is NEW about the experience? Is it the materials, the physical space, or
set-up of familiar materials?
The children will have worked with practically all of these materials before, however the set-up
of materials and the intended use being for strong structures that they can test will make the
experience unique and fun for them.

● Sketch it out–below sketch out what the experience will look like, highlighting the
When we need to do
new and the questions for each of the three experiences
reflection we will have to make copies and do our own

EXPLORABLE QUESTION:
What materials can be used to build a strong structure?
Schemas anticipated:
connecting, transforming, enveloping/enclosing, and positioning
Below: At least 3 ways to stage the environment to discover more. Include materials, location, and questions for
each.
1. Building with conventional
block materials: Abigail
Materials-
Wooden blocks
Magnetic blocks
Foam blocks
Lego pieces
Activity-
The children will explore with a
variety of block types to
construct towers of different
heights. They will use the
material to determine what
makes a strong/weak structure.
Location-
Inside the Explorer room; on
the floor or at a table, 4
children at a time.
Questions-
“What happens if we use bigger At one of the back tables with
blocks at the bottom?”
“How can we make the tower
taller without it falling over?”
“Which blocks seem to be the
strongest? Why?”
2. Creating structures using
playdough: Erik
Materials-
Playdough
Tools (meant for clay/playdough)
Activity-
Students will use the playdough,
with prompting, to build and
form materials for building. This
can include the children
flattening, rolling, and forming
the playdoh to mimic real life
materials used for buildings.
Students can also use “tools”
often used for shaping
playdough to help them. These
materials can be put together to
create buildings/towers of
varying shapes and heights.
Location-
3-4 students at a time.
Questions-
“How can we make our
playdough tower stronger?”
“What shapes do you think
would be best for making a
building stable?”
“How can we add more support
to the base of our building?”
“Can you show me how you
would make a roof for your
building”?
3. Using nature items to build
structures: Marissa
Materials-
Pinecones
Sticks
Stones
Leaves (if able)
Grass
trays
Activity-
Version 1: students go outside
of the classroom for 2 minutes
to gather materials to use for
building
Version 2: Nature materials are
placed in various containers on
the table for the students to use
Each student will have a tray in
which they are to use the
materials to build strong
structures, experimenting with
balance and gravity.
Location-
On one of the back tables in the
classroom with only 3-4
students at a time.
Questions-
“How can we make sure it won't
fall over?”
“How can we make that tower
stronger?”
“What other materials can we
use to make it stable?”
 “Is a tall building more sturdy or “Why are you choosing that
less sturdy/ Why?” material to make your
building?”

“What natural materials do you

think are the best for building?”

“What do you notice about the

different textures of the
materials?”

“Why do you think some

materials like rocks are heavier
than others, like sticks?”

Reflection:
1. What part of this lesson experience went well?

When prompted, most of the children seemed excited to build a house or building using

playdoh.

2. What part of this lesson experience surprised you?

I was surprised at the amount of students that stayed on task with the building theme. While

this was not always the case, students continued to try different ways to build these “buildings”

and some in creative ways that I did not expect.

3. If you could change anything, what would it be and why?

Although I think playdoh is a great tool for young children to be creative, this activity specifically

makes it difficult for students to stay on task. Having more concrete materials like blocks or

magnet tiles may help make the experience feel more intentional.

4. Do you feel the children engaged with the experience as you expected?
It was not always as expected because of the open-ended materials. But, the children stayed on

task and did well answering any guiding questions I had about the subject so that went well.

5. Provide photos or documentation from your lesson implementation.