Bridges - A Story and STEAM event

This program was intended to introduce STEAM concepts to preschoolers ages 3-6 years old.  

Intro song #1:  Hello Friends (sign language action song for the words hello, friends, and time)

Hello friends,
Hello friends,
Hello friends,
It's time to say hello.

Intro song #2: If You Are Ready for Stories... (my adaptation of a Rob Reid storytime rhyme)

If you are ready for stories...
...Count to three.
...Stretch your wings.
...Touch your toes.
...Touch your nose.
...Bark like a dog.
...Snore like a log.
...Sit like a kid at storytime.

Book: 

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney

STEAM questions and concepts:

What problem did the goats need to solve?

What is a bridge?

A bridge is a structure that gets you from one side of something to another.  A bridge is a structure that allows people and vehicles to cross over an open space.  Bridges span, or stretch across, deep pits in the earth, bodies of water, train tracks, and roads. 

Demonstration:

Show photos of different types of bridges. Mention the names of these types of bridges.  

Show the homemade bridge made of out cardboard and two paper cups.  Predict how many toy cars can fit on this bridge before it falls down.  Start piling on the cars as you count them.  

Now make the bridge with three paper cups.  Predict how many cares will fit with the extra support.  Pile on the cars and count.  

Remind caregivers to ask question of the budding engineers so that they will think like scientists.  

Stations: 

Station #1- Encourage children to experiment with the demonstration bridge and cars.

Station #2 - Encourage children to use folded or rolled papers to make a bridge to span the distance between two large blocks.  Next, have them count them count how many glass stones (the type used in flower vases) each different type of bride will hold.  If able, they can also test their own paper bridge.  

Station #3 - Encourage children to create a unique bridge with the art supplies provided.  

Reflection: 

Station #2 did not go as intended.  The children mostly played with the glass stones, both on and off the paper bridges.  One child made a clever pattern with the stones all lined up on table.  

Bridges Are for Crossing Storytime

Storytime for 1 to 3 year olds:

• Opening - Skinnamarink, Sticky Sticky Bubblegum

• Book #1 – Cross a Bridge by Ryan Ann Hunter, illustrated by Edward Miller

• Stand-up Activity – "London Bridge Is Falling Down" from Playtime Favorites by Music for Little People

• Bridge - Open, Shut Them (fingerplay)

Open, shut them
(open and close hands)
Open, shut them
Give a little clap (clap)
Open, shut them

Open, shut them
Put them in your lap
(put hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them
Under your chin
(creep fingers up chest)
Open your mouth, but don't put them in
(do as words say)

Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open shut them
Open shut them
Put them in your lap 

• Group Activity - Count the Cars on the Bridge Before It Falls (counting activity)

Directions: Make a simple bridge with a long strip of cardboard over two plastic cups. Be sure to name the parts of the bridge. Add small toy cars one at the time to the deck of the bridge, counting as you place the cars on the bridge. (I had to place the cars upside down so they would not roll off the bridge.) When the bridge falls down due to weight, add another cup under the deck of the bridge and start again.

• Letter of the Day - "B" is for bridge

• Book #2 – Freight Train by Donald Crews (big book)

• Activity – Chugging Down the Track (action chant written by Carol Hopkins)

Here is the choo-chootrainchugging down the track.

See it going forward,

See it going back.

Now it's going fast,

Faster, faster, faster!

Chugging over hills.

Chugging through tunnels.

Chugging over trestle bridges.

Speeding past people.

Now the bell is ringing.

Hear the whistle blow, "Toot! Toot!"

As it slows down perfectly to a stop in the station below. 

• Closing - Shaker eggs using the song "I Know a Chicken" from Whaddaya Think of That? by Laurie Berkner

    

 

• Art Experience – Glue craft sticks to a paper bowl and paper plate bridge to make a wooden bridge (I found the directions for this idea at eHow)