Designing Hook Experiences
Name: Marissa Zanon, Erik Quillen, Abbey Harnen
Classroom: Explorers
Lesson Overview: How do you anticipate the children will explore with the materials? What do
you think they will do? What COULD happen?
The children will be using the materials to construct structures with various materials. I think
they will construct buildings that are similar to homes and then fill those homes with other
items that are available on the table. They could potentially explore breaking down the
buildings as well using their hands or possibly other materials.
Lesson Plan Objectives: what do I INTEND for the children to explore?
The children are to explore building through multiple forms including construction and
destruction given different materials to work with.
THE HOOK:
Roles/Responsibilities
What are the CHILDREN doing? What is your explorable question? Ideally, children should be
able to loop back to this question in their exploration
● What materials can be used to build a strong structure?
● building structures with various materials
What is the TEACHER doing? How are you asking children to engage with
the explorable question? Write 3 ways to ask: how; what; where)
● HOW: How can we build a sturdy building?
● WHAT: What materials could we use to make the strongest building?
● WHERE: Where can we find strong materials for our building?
How are you DOCUMENTING? What tools are you using for documenting the experience?
● Photos/Videos
● Anecdotal notes
THE BAIT:
The NEW
● What is NEW about the experience? Is it the materials, the physical space, or
set-up of familiar materials?
The children will have worked with practically all of these materials before, however the set-up
of materials and the intended use being for strong structures that they can test will make the
experience unique and fun for them.
● Sketch it out–below sketch out what the experience will look like, highlighting the
When we need to do
new and the questions for each of the three experiences
reflection we will have to make copies and do our own
EXPLORABLE QUESTION:
What materials can be used to build a strong structure?
Schemas anticipated:
connecting, transforming, enveloping/enclosing, and positioning
Below: At least 3 ways to stage the environment to discover more. Include materials, location, and questions for
each.
1. Building with conventional 2. Creating structures using 3. Using nature items to build
block materials: Abigail playdough: Erik structures: Marissa
Materials- Materials- Materials-
Wooden blocks Playdough Pinecones
Magnetic blocks Tools (meant for clay/playdough) Sticks
Foam blocks Stones
Lego pieces Activity- Leaves (if able)
Students will use the playdough, Grass
Activity- with prompting, to build and trays
The children will explore with a form materials for building. This
variety of block types to can include the children Activity-
construct towers of different flattening, rolling, and forming Version 1: students go outside
heights. They will use the the playdoh to mimic real life of the classroom for 2 minutes
material to determine what materials used for buildings. to gather materials to use for
makes a strong/weak structure. Students can also use “tools” building
often used for shaping Version 2: Nature materials are
Location- playdough to help them. These placed in various containers on
Inside the Explorer room; on materials can be put together to the table for the students to use
the floor or at a table, 4 create buildings/towers of
children at a time. varying shapes and heights. Each student will have a tray in
which they are to use the
Questions- Location- materials to build strong
“What happens if we use bigger At one of the back tables with structures, experimenting with
blocks at the bottom?” 3-4 students at a time. balance and gravity.
“How can we make the tower Questions- Location-
taller without it falling over?” “How can we make our On one of the back tables in the
playdough tower stronger?” classroom with only 3-4
“Which blocks seem to be the students at a time.
strongest? Why?” “What shapes do you think
would be best for making a Questions-
building stable?” “How can we make sure it won't
fall over?”
“How can we add more support
to the base of our building?” “How can we make that tower
stronger?”
“Can you show me how you
would make a roof for your “What other materials can we
building”? use to make it stable?”
“Is a tall building more sturdy or “Why are you choosing that
less sturdy/ Why?” material to make your
building?”
“What natural materials do you
think are the best for building?”
“What do you notice about the
different textures of the
materials?”
“Why do you think some
materials like rocks are heavier
than others, like sticks?”
Reflection:
1. What part of this lesson experience went well?
When prompted, most of the children seemed excited to build a house or building using
playdoh.
2. What part of this lesson experience surprised you?
I was surprised at the amount of students that stayed on task with the building theme. While
this was not always the case, students continued to try different ways to build these “buildings”
and some in creative ways that I did not expect.
3. If you could change anything, what would it be and why?
Although I think playdoh is a great tool for young children to be creative, this activity specifically
makes it difficult for students to stay on task. Having more concrete materials like blocks or
magnet tiles may help make the experience feel more intentional.
4. Do you feel the children engaged with the experience as you expected?
It was not always as expected because of the open-ended materials. But, the children stayed on
task and did well answering any guiding questions I had about the subject so that went well.
5. Provide photos or documentation from your lesson implementation.
