Building Forts and Connections: A Hands-On Learning Experience

As we wrapped up Benchmark Unit 6, our students delved into the theme that "every story has a message" through classic fables. After reading The Little Red Hen, we compared and contrasted it with The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier, available on MackinVIA. The latter book inspired us with its illustrations and captions on different ways to build a fort, sparking a lively class discussion about our own experiences with fort building. To our surprise, we discovered that most of our students had never built a fort before!

In our classroom, we collect class compliments, and once we earn ten, we celebrate with a special reward. Having just reached this milestone, we decided to put our newfound knowledge to the test with 20 minutes of fort building! Using the lessons learned from our fables, the students quickly realized that teamwork would be the key to success. They eagerly shared ideas, collaborated, and set to work constructing the largest and most amazing Kindergarten fort.

To celebrate, we enjoyed a snack and a story inside their impressive creation. The students were thrilled, and their confidence as explorers and builders grew. They encouraged one another, embraced teamwork, and couldn't wait to bring their new skills home to share with their families.

As a teacher, Ms. Gideon found this experience to be a powerful reminder that text connections go beyond questioning and retelling. With a little creativity, hands-on exploration, and teamwork, even our youngest learners can engage deeply with stories in meaningful and memorable ways.