Design and Invention

Construct a basic shelter. Choose walls and roof. Consider what materials are available where. Build a family. Consider the problems your walls will protect them from: rain, snow, heat, fire, winds, floods, mice, bugs or wolves.

With an introduction of houses around the world from Arthur Dorros' This is My House*, students will then build their own houses with front or side yards, chimney, doorbell, fences, trees, steps, porch, flowers…whatever they can 'see' in their mind's eye as they walk toward their own front door.

*© 1992 Scholastic Hardcover by Arthur Dorros.

Ever wonder why different birds' beaks look the way they do? Why are some bird's beaks pointy? curved? long? short?
The same questions hold for animals, plants and humans (not beak shapes of course – but other features.)

Build an 'arm' with the beak of a bird at the end. Activate it. Discover why it's shaped the way it is. Experiment with picking up different materials with the beaks. Discover anything? Adaptation happens when the need arises for survival.