Young Engineers believes in education through play. Our Big Builders unique enrichment program introduces pre-school aged children to scientific concepts through hands-on experiential learning. We hope that establishing this connection between knowledge and fun at such a young age will set our participants up for a lifetime of learning and creating. Our Big Builders will construct 3D models using flexible parts. Students will receive a set especially designed for the Big Builders program. These activities will gradually challenge participants, in order to advance their fine and gross motor skills. This enrichment program will expose our builders to engineering terminology. In addition, students will be familiarized with simple concepts such as the animal kingdom, scientific principles and their everyday surroundings. Through their play with co-builders, our young scholars will advance their interpersonal communication and will gain confidence about his/her own ability to discover and invent.
Overview of Big Builder Curriculum
Big Builder lessons include discussions about shapes, spatial recognition and moveable versus immovable parts. Our instructors use proper math and science terminology to familiarize students with these professional terms. Builders learn simple addition and subtraction through building their models. Students will also discover basic principles of fractions as they learn the idea of parts of a whole. We introduce laws of physics on a basic level through demonstrations of centrifugal force, gravity, torque, stability, friction, momentum, mechanical energy, balance, compaction and drive. Additionally, because many of our Big Builder models have nature/animal themes, students will learn basic concepts of biology. We believe that lessons are learned and absorbed more easily through hands-on experiential learning. That is why our graduated Big Builders students will have a better understanding of everyday mathematical and scientific concepts.
Big Builders Program Objectives
- Increase knowledge about the world and environment
- Enhance sense of community and feelings of belonging
- Encourage independent and creative thinking
- Develop a sense of self-efficacy and problem solving capabilities
- Boost team building, cooperation and group play skills
Big Builders Models
- Basic geometric shapes
- Animals
- Solar Systems
- Amusement park rides
- Transportation
- Aircrafts