From the homes we live in to our school buildings, construction surrounds us and provides us protection. Construction also provides a place to combine art and science to make beautiful and intelligent designs. National Construction Week is celebrated during 3rd week of September and brings awareness to this crucial field. Learn more about this special week here.

Today, you will become an architect and construction worker!

Step 1: There are animal construction workers that build just like people do: beavers! Where do beavers live and how do they survive? Much like humans beavers need a habitat to live in to survive. Check out how beavers construct a home here.

Step 2: Construction can come in many different forms. Can you brainstorm different forms of construction? Is construction just making buildings? Check out these facts about construction.

Step 3: You have researched information about construction, how animals use construction, and why construction is important. Now it's time to build! Today, you will construct a cardboard castle.

Step 4: To begin construction of your castle, you will need to gather supplies. You will need markers, cardboard and scissors cutting the cardboard. Draw your design of your castle. (Younger students, ask an adult for help cutting.) Remember you can make a small or large castle. Begin to assemble your castle and make it beautiful by adding color to it. Check out these castles. 

Step 5: Be sure to ask a family member to share your castle on social media using #MakerMondayTN and #LearningInPlaceTN!



Additional Resources:

What is Construction?

Construction Over Time  

Construction machinery can be extremely large and heavy. How does that giant equipment work and what special jobs do they do?  Consider the different sizes of buildings and how cranes help them taller and taller. How was the tallest building in Nashville constructed? Construction is art and science coming together to build America- one city, road, and development at a time.

Today, you will explore the different types of construction equipment!

Step 1: How were some of the tallest and most popular buildings in Nashville created? Check out these links to explore buildings in downtown Nashville that you might have seen: 

• Tallest Building in Nashville
• Bridgestone Building
• Schermerhorn

Step 2: Ever drive through a big city and see large metal structures on the skyline? Check out how cranes work and help construction workers build buildings here.

Step 3: When visiting a construction site you will see many different tools and types of equipment used to build the product (road, commercial building, house). Construction workers have to use different tools and equipment. What type of tools do they use? Do they use just a simple shovel or do they have heavier, bigger, and stronger equipment to get the job done?  Explore how the equipment works on a job site. What is your favorite piece of equipment? Why?     

Step 4: Now that we have researched cranes and equipment on a construction site, ever wonder how a building is constructed? Check out this link to learn more. 

Step 5: Ask a family member to share what you learned about construction on social media using #WonderWednesdayTN and #LearningInPlaceTN!

Additional Resources:

Construction Fun

Railway Bridge Repair

The field of construction offers different career paths with many different levels of required education. Some jobs require a 4 year degree from a university while other positions need a trade or technical school for a job. And some jobs don't require special training before but instead train you on the job. With all the specialized equipment and high tech tools, construction workers have to prioritize safety.

 Today, you will explore careers in construction fields!

Step 1: Before a building can be constructed, the land has to be assessed and marked. It is important to make sure you build on the right spot! That's where surveyors come into construction. Find out more about surveyors and how to become one here.

Step 2: Every construction project needs a great leader and team working together to complete the job. A good manager can mean that a job is completed on time, correctly, and safely. Find out more about the vital position of construction management here.

Step 3: Electricity is a vital element to successful build. This job require knowledge and precision. Learn more about electricians here and here. 

 Step 4: You can train to become a concrete management specialist with a unique program at Middle Tennessee State University  concrete management program. Check out how the concrete program helped the recent Grand Prix race in Nashville making safety barriers for the race.

Step 5: Ask a family member to share something you learned about one of the careers and why you're interested in that career using #FutureFridayTN and #LearningInPlaceTN!

Additional Resources:

Types of construction

Women in Construction