5 Fun Read Alouds with Quick Design Challenges

 If you are looking for ways to increase engagement in your reading classroom, research shows that incorporating some aspect of hands-on learning will help. Extension activities are great, but I like infusing hand-on learning within the story, as opposed to after reading. 

During a read aloud, I like to interrupt the story and give students an opportunity to activate their thinking. I might pose a question about character development or share a wondering about the problem in the story. Let's face it, every good story has some problem that needs solved. We can use design thinking strategies and student creativity to come up with solutions to those problems. I call those Quick Designs.

Each Quick Design Challenge is connected to a read aloud selection. Challenges require minimal materials (think cardboard, tape, plastic recyclables, etc.) and can be implemented with students in grades K-5. You may choose to include additional criteria or limitations for students based on their age and experience. 

Here are a few fun books to try:

Those Darn Squirrels 

• Design and build a bird feeder using craft sticks. Be sure to include a way for the feeder to hang in the tree. 
• Create a pulley system to get the birdseed from the ground up to the feeder. 
• Devise a trap to catch the squirrels using recyclable materials.

Betty Builds It 

• Invent a gadget to help Betty clean her room. Sketch a design and then create a prototype. 
• Build a contraption to fly Betty to Venus. 
• Create a robot companion for her using cardboard and other found materials. 

I Am Not A Chair 

• Design a small scale chair using only paper.. (Hint-rolling the paper will help to create strong pillars for constructing the legs of the chair.) 
• Can the chair hold a water bottle at least 6 inches off the ground? 
• Now try and build a life-size chair for you to sit on. Will it hold your weight? 

Inky’s Amazing Escape 

• Inky loses parts of his tentacles in the story. Design a prosthetic arm for Inky until his grows back. 
• Construct a lobster trap and include a mechanism that will close the trap. 
• What materials will you use to make it waterproof? 

Mousetronaut Goes to Mars 

• Design a tool that will help Mousestronaut on his mission. 
• Build a model of the solar system. Don’t forget to include Mars! 
• Create a mouse-sized rover to land on Mars.

If you are interested in more ideas like these, check out my book Remaking Literacy. You can find it at bit.ly/MaslykBooks or contact me at jaciemaslyk@gmail.com to bring a hands-on workshop to your school.