Anybody remember when I shared Homeschooling With a Cement Mixer? Today we took advantage of a similar opportunity.
We have a Construction Site within walking distance, so the boys and I set off on a walk to learn more about how houses are made.
This is one of the empty sites.
Since they're putting in an entire subdivision, there are several empty sites still.
After the pipes are in, they build forms.
The forms hold the concrete when they pour the foundations.
They had a couple of these little Bobcats working.
Moving piles of dirt and rock around.
There aren't any houses currently at the framing stage, so we'll have to go back over there when the newest ones get to that point. These ones have most of the siding on already.
I was showing the boys the various stages of roofing.
Naked roof
Roof with bundles
Roofs in progress
Finished roof
And finished roof with solar panels (these are solar homes).
Finished house
And SOLD finished house.
Along the way, not only did we have a nice walk and see interesting things, we also discussed vocabulary words like rebar.
We got to see a truck making a delivery, too.
We even stopped briefly in the model office to look at the floor plans and got to see an aerial view of the neighborhood.
When we got back home, we had trail mix for snack and then wrote about how houses are made, complete with drawings.
I'm planning to brainstorm a list of construction related words on the whiteboard with the boys, and then have them spell them out with the letter tiles. Things like nail gun, blueprint, hardhat, foreman, bulldozer, plywood, hammer, pipes, shingle, plumber, etc.
What fun!! :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I need to remind myself to take advantage of the opportunities that pop up almost literally in our back yard. :)
DeleteMy kids love watching construction sites. I have to slow down the car whenever we pass one, so the kids can take a look.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved here 11 years ago, there was construction everywhere in town! It was quite fun to watch stuff pop up. Then things slumped for a while, so it's neat to see it start to pick up again.
DeleteI have to admit, that being a visual learner here, I always prefer posts with tons of pics! This looks like such a great idea :) We make schooling about anything & everything, right? :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting from this week's Inspired By Me Mondays; hope you come back & link up with us again!!
I'm glad you liked it. I was feeling like it might be *too* many pictures. Today, they're pouring concrete, and I'm awfully tempted to go back out and take some MORE pictures, lol. :)
DeleteThis is something I hadn't even considered doing. You are very clever! We have so much new construction around us, it would be so easy - and a really fun lesson. Thanks so much for the idea!
ReplyDelete:) My dad was a carpenter when I was a kid, so I grew up around construction sites. I was just wishing my kids had the same knowledge about how buildings are made, and realized we should go take a peek. They've poured foundations, and I'm ready to take them back out there. I want to add words like framing and insulation to their vocabulary. :)
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