Ingenuity
Week 31
We can build a house from a variety of materials
Ingenuity is defined as the quality of being clever, original, resourceful, and inventive. Only man was created by God with the ability to create and invent, especially when there is a need. In this block we will discover along with the children some of the things they sometimes take for granted. We have the ability to consider a situation and come up with a solution or adaptation. On the other hand, animals are not capable of thinking in this way. Ingenuity is a part of the preciousness of our humanity.
Point to emphasize
We need homes to live in. Because we are resourceful, we can build a house out of many different materials.
Sample content and conversation with children
- Today we will learn that we are resourceful. This means that we can find things to use for what we need. We will find out that we can be resourceful in building houses.
- Show a picture of a typical house in Anaheim or Orange (picture #1), or a picture of your own house. Ask the children: Does this look like a home we live in? (Yes)
- Show pictures of houses from different parts of the world:
- Igloo in the Arctic (#2)—Years ago many people who lived where it was freezing cold made their homes like this. How did they make them? [Packed snow.]
- Yurt (#3)—This house can be packed up and set up again as the family travels with their herds. What materials did they use to build it? [Kind of like a big tent – poles and fabric.]
- Grass/mud huts (#4)—These homes are found in places where it is extremely HOT! What are they made of? [A paste of mud and grass/straw mixed with water, dried leaves for roof.]
- Turf homes in Iceland (#5)—Look at these homes! What did they use to build them? [wood and stone with mats of grass for the roof.]
- Stilt houses (#6)—And what about these houses! Why are they built like that, off the ground? [These homes are built on stilts so that when the water rises it will go underneath the house.]
- How amazing that people can find things to build houses wherever they live! God created us with the ability to be creative and to use whatever materials are available to build things with.
- NOW, what about us? What can we use to build a house? [Show pictures of “houses” the children have built with different materials they have (#7 to #10)]. Even at 3 or 4 years old, you can already build things out of different materials that you have! Animals certainly cannot do that. Only we were created by God this way. We can be resourceful; in this case, that means we can find things to use to build houses.
- Show a picture of a burrow made by prairie dogs or gophers (#11 and #12). Ask the children, does this look like a home we live in? (No) This is the only way that these animals can make a home (show picture of gopher/prairie dogs). All they can do is dig holes and tunnels in the ground. But they can only do this in certain places with grassland or loose, sandy soil. These animals only live in areas that have grassland or soil. But because God made us to be resourceful, we can find things around us to build a house and live anywhere. Aren’t you glad God made us this way? I know I am. Since we are so happy God made us to be resourceful, we should thank Him. Together let’s say, “Thank You, God!”
Suggested activities
- With your family, create a house from different materials you find around your house. Some examples: Legos, blocks, magnet tiles, popsicle sticks, cardboard, pillows and blankets and chairs, shoeboxes, cardboard boxes, paper.
- Salt Painting
- Zoom activity: I Spy
Suggested songs
Hold Out Your Hands
Thank you, God [stanza 1]
Pictures
#1: Typical house
Houses from different parts of the world
#2: Igloo in Canada
#3: Yurt in Mongolia
#4: Grass and mud hut in Kenya
#5: Turf houses in Iceland
#6: Stilt houses in Myanmar and in Indonesia
Made by children like YOU
#7: Blocks
#8: Magnet tiles
#9: Cardboard house
#10: Milk cartons and carton boxes buildings and cities
Burrow and Animals
#11: Prairie dogs
#12: Gopher
