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Why do builders need so many big machines?

Why do builders need so many big machines?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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Optional Activity: Forces at Work

Watch these big machines work. Think about what each machine does. Discuss with your class.

What does the dump truck do?

What does the truck-crane do?

What does the bulldozer do?

Slide Image

push


1 of 3

to move an object away from you
Video trouble?

pull


2 of 3

to move an object toward you
Video trouble?

machine


3 of 3

a tool that uses pushes and pulls to do something
Video trouble?

Featured Reviews

“It was good to have time to reinforce vocabulary. Students were really excited to identify and model their work words.”
· Keri · Teacher
“The kids loved the videos of the construction machines at the end. Engaging and elicited a lot of good conversations!”
· Amber · Teacher
“The kids loved the activity; I loved the writing component as well.”
· Tana · Teacher
“Easy to do and the kids loved seeing the big machines in action.”
· Susan · Teacher
“I love that the lessons were interactive and got us moving. They taught the whole family a lot about machines. It worked well for both my son and daughters that ranged from 2 years to 8 years old.”
· Michele · Homeschooler
“The moving like the machines helped the students stay engaged. ”
· · Teacher
“I love that I can continue the same topic of study over several weeks and that the lessons build on each other. They are engaging and fun for the kids. My kindergarteners look forward to Mondays because we get to do Mystery Science!”
· Marsha · Teacher
“My son especially enjoyed watching the videos of tractors/trucks in action to go along with reading the story. I liked the worksheet attached to the lesson that gives the children a chance to draw their own picture and continue to think about the lesson!”
· Jennifer · Homeschooler
“The kids really loved seeing the different machines and acting out each machine. It was a cool way to learn about pushes and pulls. ”
· Leah · Teacher
“I loved the movement portion! Plus the extra videos showing the way the different machines worked really engaged my students”
· Amanda · Teacher
“My students enjoyed trying to read along. ”
· Stacey · Teacher
“The book was on the students' level and engaging!”
· Laura · Teacher
“Loved it...I work with ESE students so the print being visible and easy to track is so helpful!!”
· Lisa · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep

Switch to non-narrated version

In this Read-Along lesson, Vivian watches a house being built and wonders why the builders need so many big machines. The lesson includes a short exercise where students act out the “work words” of their favorite machine. You can extend the lesson with the optional activity, Forces at Work, where students watch videos of construction equipment and practice using work words to describe what the machines are doing.
Preview optional activity
Prep Instructions

This activity does not require supplies.

As an optional activity, we include videos of three construction machines, like the ones Vivian saw in the story. The videos include songs about the construction machines and what they do.

We suggest you preview the videos. When you show them to your students, you may want students to act out what the machines do. After watching the videos, ask your students to describe what each machine does and identify the "work words" involved.

Extend this lesson

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

Videos

Videos

You’ll find many more kid-friendly videos of trucks and trains at Things that Go TV.

Transcripts

Credits
 
Pushes Tx Read-Along Lesson 2: Why do builders need so many big machines?

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