🧩 Thinking & feelings · Ages 5–6 · about 2 weeks

Plan, Try and Improve

Goal: Plan a small construction, try it and explain one change that could improve it.

For parents: A plan is an idea about what you will do. Keep the goal small and let your child choose a change. A structure that falls gives useful information; rebuilding is part of the activity.

Do together

  1. A plan for a paper bridge

    You need: Two low unbreakable cups and a sheet of scrap paper

    On the floor, put the cups a short distance apart. Ask your child to plan a paper bridge between them. Let them point or draw before building. Check whether the paper reaches both cups without falling.

  2. Change one thing

    You need: The same cups and paper

    If the bridge sags, ask what they could change. Try folding the paper, or moving the cups closer, one change at a time. Compare with the first attempt. There is no need to add a load or stand on the bridge.

  3. Tell the builder

    You need: Paper and a crayon

    Ask your child to draw the first bridge and the changed bridge. Let them explain what helped. You follow their instructions to build another one, asking for clarification if needed. They can revise the plan again.

Talk about it

  • What do you want your bridge to do?
  • What one thing could we change?
  • How did that change help your bridge?

Words to use

  • plan
  • build
  • try
  • change
  • test
  • improve

Play

  • Shape Builder
    Building
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