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Teddy with building blocks.

Year 1
Building Houses

Throughout our 6 Building Houses topic your child will investigate the materials used to build your home. Design and build your own house made from sticks, blocks, paper and even food! Hands-On Education are passionate about providing positive educational experiences for children through interactive and engaging hands-on activities. Whilst meeting the standards in the National Curriculum in England, our activities encourage children to play, explore, observe, build, create and much more. We promote child-led learning, inspiring confidence and independence as children develop their own ideas and understanding. Our activities are open-ended and easily adaptable to suit all. By providing informed lesson plans and resources, we support parents and educators in guiding children through their learning journey.

Within this topic you will find:

  • 6 activity plans, all of which clearly explain how to prepare and carry out each activity.
  • 3 activity sheets to support your child in recording their investigations.

This topic meets aspects within the National Curriculum in England in the following subjects: Art, Design & Technology, English, Maths and Science.

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Annual Key Stage 1 Membership
    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Art = Design & Technology = English = Maths = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Click to Enlarge Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Investigating House Materials

Activity 1
Investigating House Materials

  • Sc1/3.1a distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made
Activity Two - Measuring Around My House

Activity 2
Measuring Around My House

  • Ma1/3.1b measure and begin to record the following: lengths and heights
Activity Three - Material Rubbings

Activity 3
Material Rubbings

  • White paper
  • Wax crayons
  • Tape
  • Surfaces for the rubbings
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture
  • Sc1/3.1b identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock
  • Sc1/3.1c describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials
Activity Four - Design And Build A House From Recycling

Activity 4
Design And Build A House From Recycling

  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • DT1/1.1a design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
  • DT1/1.1b generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
  • DT1/1.2a select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
  • DT1/1.2belect from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
Activity Five - Design And Build Three Little Pigs House

Activity 5
Design And Build Three Little Pigs House

  • Three Little Pigs storybook
  • Shredded paper
  • Craft sticks
  • Duplo / Lego / Wooden blocks
  • En1/2.2a develop pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by: becoming very familiar with key stories, fairy stories and traditional tales, retelling them and considering their particular characteristics
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • Dt1/1.4a build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
Activity Six - Design And Build A House From Food

Activity 6
Design And Build A House From Food

  • Food with different textures and shapes, for example:
    Bread sticks
    Oat cakes
    Marshmallows / Sweets
    Strawberries
    Banana
  • Knife (if appropriate)
  • Cutting Board
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • Dt1/1.4a build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
Learn Through Play

Build with blocks / Lego / magnetic tiles / sticks / bedsheets and cushions…the list is endless!

Symbols Key

    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Art = Design & Technology = English = Maths = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s)
Activity One - Investigating House Materials

Activity 1
Investigating House Materials

Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc1/3.1a distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made
Downloads:
Activity Two - Measuring Around My House

Activity 2
Measuring Around My House

Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ma1/3.1b measure and begin to record the following: lengths and heights
Downloads:
Activity Three - Material Rubbings

Activity 3
Material Rubbings

Practical Resources:
  • White paper
  • Wax crayons
  • Tape
  • Surfaces for the rubbings
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture
  • Sc1/3.1b identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock
  • Sc1/3.1c describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials
Downloads:
Activity Four - Design And Build A House From Recycling

Activity 4
Design And Build A House From Recycling

Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • DT1/1.1a design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
  • DT1/1.1b generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
  • DT1/1.2a select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
  • DT1/1.2belect from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
Downloads:
Activity Five - Design And Build 3 Little Pigs House

Activity 5
Design And Build Three Little Pigs House

Practical Resources:
  • Three Little Pigs storybook
  • Shredded paper
  • Craft sticks
  • Duplo / Lego / Wooden blocks
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • En1/2.2a develop pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by: becoming very familiar with key stories, fairy stories and traditional tales, retelling them and considering their particular characteristics
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • Dt1/1.4a build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
Downloads:
Activity Six - Design And Build A House From Food

Activity 6
Design And Build A House From Food

Practical Resources:
  • Food with different textures and shapes, for example:
    Bread sticks
    Oat cakes
    Marshmallows / Sweets
    Strawberries
    Banana
  • Knife (if appropriate)
  • Cutting Board
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.1 to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
  • Dt1/1.4a build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
Downloads:

Learn Through Play
Build with blocks / Lego / magnetic tiles / sticks / bedsheets and cushions…the list is endless!

Suggested Resources

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
The Three Little Pigs

There are many versions of this story you can choose from. This is just one option.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
Let's Build a House
by Mick Manning

A book about different buildings and their material.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
Homes Around the World
by Moira Butterfield

Find out about the homes of children around the world.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
National Trust: Step Inside Homes Through History
by Goldie Hawk

Find out how homes have changed over time.

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