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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!
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!
    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!
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!

How do I use the Building Houses Activities?

Use these Building Houses Activities as a fun way for your child or student to practice exploring structures and creatively build. Students will use the various activity sheets and resources you provide them with as a prompt to tick boxes, ask questions, learn about recycling materials, and examine well known stories such as the Three Little Pigs.

This resource addresses the following standards: Art & Design, Design & Technology, English, Mathematics and Science.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our Year 1 ideas within Key Stage One. These resources are great if you’re teaching your students or own children in line with the National Curriculum of England. There are plenty of topics for you to choose from, so you’ll be delighted with the wide range when planning your day.

Hands-On Education cover nearly the entire National Curriculum of England standard for Year 1 and Year 2. Use our resources if you are teaching your children or students about testing materials, the property of materials or exploring materials. You will find tons of videos, activity sheets and easy to understand activity plans to support children in their learning journey!

Other great creative activities for your class!

Here at Hands-On Education, we have loads of resources aimed at promoting enjoyable learning in your home or classroom. Create your free account today to watch and download our videos along with loads of exclusive educational materials!

The Exploring Materials activities are a perfect resource to learn alongside these six Building Houses resources and to help encourage children to use their imagination.

Additional Hands-On Activities

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Year 2 / Key Stage 1

Art In Action

£4.00
Exploring Materials Activities
Year 1 / Key Stage 1

Exploring Materials

£4.50
Flying Machines Activities
Year 2 / Key Stage 1

Flying Machines

£4.50
Inspired By Shapes: One Activities
Year 1 / Key Stage 1

Inspired By Shapes: One

£4.00
Material Investigations Activities
Year 1 / Key Stage 1

Material Investigations

£4.50
Properties of Materials Activities
Year 2 / Key Stage 1

Properties of Materials

£4.50
Testing Materials Activities
Year 2 / Key Stage 1

Testing Materials

£4.50

Suggested Resources

Suggested Books
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The Three Little Pigs

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

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Let's Build a House
by Mick Manning

A book about different buildings and their material.

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Homes Around the World
by Moira Butterfield

Find out about the homes of children around the world.

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National Trust: Step Inside Homes Through History
by Goldie Hawk

Find out how homes have changed over time.

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