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Brick Playbook: Parent Edition
Every Brick Tells a Story
Use brick design to write the narrative of a story.
Objective:
Child will be able to create an imaginary object or creature out of bricks and use it as the basis of a narrative.
Essential Question(s):
How do I use my imagination to create something new with limited supplies?
How do I tell a story that moves the reader from the beginning to the end?
Special Materials:
Paper and pencil
Bricks Required:
Any assortment
Project Structure
Engage/Explore:
- Hand out bricks, asking the child to create something with them: “Make something! Can you make a tool? A creature? What else can you make? Is there a top of the brick? Which side is up? How can you put them together in unexpected ways?”
- Emphasize that there isn’t necessarily a “top” or “bottom,” and that child should think about the texture they like, etc.
- Allow time for child to build.
Explain/Elaborate:
- When the child has finished building, ask: “What situation would this object be helpful in? Who uses it? If it’s a creature, what does it like to do?”
- Ask child to plan their stories: How does their story begin? What’s the situation? Who are the characters? What choice does a character need to make? How does another character respond to the choice in words and actions?
- Ask child to write the first draft of their stories. They may revise and publish as well as illustrate their story with a picture of their creation.
