FM.H.103 BUILDS A BRIDGE IN IMITATION
Like FM.H.75 this is an imitation activity using blocks. The problem is to create a structure the same as that demonstrated by the teacher.
This activity also requires fine balance, and some forward thinking.
How to Assess
Materials: 6 blocks, about 3 cm across.
Method: Say: ‘I’m going to build a bridge. Look, I put one block here, and one block here and a block on top.’ Place your second block about 2 cm away from the first, and the third block on top, straddling the others.
Draw your child’s attention to the gap in the bridge by pushing your finger or a pencil through the hole. Say ‘Look, my train goes under the bridge’.
Leaving your bridge intact, give the remaining blocks to your child and say ‘You build a bridge’. Give 3 tries.
Score plus if your child builds a bridge, as described, in 2 out of 3 tries.
How to Teach
The steps are similar to those used in FM.H.75 and the same basic approach is used to teach this skill.
- Adds the third block to complete a bridge.
- Adds two blocks to the first block to complete a bridge, with verbal help and physical help. At this and the following stage, emphasise leaving a gap between the first 2 blocks. Some children find it helpful to use a finger as a guide.
- Builds a bridge with verbal help only.
- Builds a bridge in imitation, as in the main objective. Your aim is that your child should watch and copy you, so teach as much as possible through demonstration. Give no more physical or verbal help than is absolutely necessary.
Playtime and Round-the-house Activities
Encourage bridge building when your child is playing with his blocks and cars. Bridges can be built with large blocks of different shapes. Perhaps you could build a huge one with cardboard cartons and let him wriggle through the hole.
Remembering and Extending
When your child has mastered this skill, the way is open for building more complex block structures. You can give him ideas as you play alongside him, and admire the ones he creates by himself.