Build Like a Beaver

Beavers are inspiring engineers, but they also model persistence! In this activity, we invite kids to take inspiration from the super engineer beaver and use whatever they have around them to build up. Building up can be challenging, as gravity is always ready to pull our towers down. But, we learn from every trial and every error, if we are willing to persist! 

The Guide

Step 1: Build up (or out!)
Gather a collection of materials kids can use to stack and build with, such as cardboard boxes, recycled containers, sticks or even wooden building blocks. To spark play, use a question prompt like “I wonder how tall of a tower you could build with those boxes?” Step back and let kids get to work on building with the materials.

Step 2: Offer challenges and prompts.
To add extra challenge, invite kids to challenge themselves to build higher or to see how quickly they can stack all of their building materials. When we think of building, it’s most often oriented up. What about building out and remaining on the ground but sprawling out on all sides? How does it feel to arrange as a form of building? Can kids build on a tiny scale and create a home for a tiny friend? Big kids may also enjoy the challenge of building a pretend beaver den or other type of structure. 

Why is this activity great for kids?
Learning through trial and error and sticking with a challenging task is great practice in persistence. As towers topple and kids experience and talk about the different emotions they experience, they have the opportunity to practice empathy. Sticking with the task of building or working with materials develops kids’ capacity for focus and self-control. Structure building is also a great way for kids to work on problem solving and STEM learning (e.g. concepts of balance and the effects of gravity).

This article was originally published as a DIY activity on the Tinkergarten website.