My 2½-year-old grandson is obsessed with construction vehicles right now. And all my grandkids have fun with building activities. Because construction is such a popular theme, we’re having a new construction unit!
In addition to focusing on construction vehicles, we’ll focus on engineers and architects, construction workers, and a variety of buildings and building activities. I also have a new Montessori-inspired construction pack for our newsletter subscribers’ resource library!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori Shelves with Construction-Themed Activities
Montessori Shelves with Construction Activities
You’ll find Montessori-inspired construction numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
You could mix your construction-themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special construction-themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves at the beginning of our unit have a mixture of skill levels mainly from preschooler through early elementary. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.
Montessori Book Basket and Shelves with Construction Activities
Even though I have books on shelves, I keep the main Montessori-friendly books for our current theme in a book basket by the themed shelf. You’ll find a few of the books I’ve used here. For toddlers and preschoolers, at least ¾ of the books I use are Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or vehicles).
Notice the framed Theater-Mountain-Construction (1920) by Paul Klee. It’s a free download from Wikimedia. I’m featuring Paul Klee this month!
These are the art books I’m using this month:
For our monthly featured art print, I purchased a Li’l DAVINCI art frame that opens in the front for easily changing a free art masterpiece printable or vintage illustration to fit with the month’s theme. The frame can be switched from horizontal to vertical without changing the hanger, which is perfect!
If you’re wondering about the rugs and rug box I use, both the rugs and wooden rug holder are from Montessori Services. I love the Montessori Services rugs and rug holder! I used to use an umbrella stand something like these. I loved that for 1-3 rugs, but I needed something different when I had more grandchildren and some projects that needed more than one rug.
Shelves with Construction Materials and Construction Building Toys
Shelves with Construction Materials and Construction Building Toys
Typically, I only have one shelf of themed activities with maybe one or two themed activities on another shelf. This is such a big unit for my grandkids that I shared construction activities on two shelves.
Construction Worker Tools Book with Construction-Themed Playdough Tray
Sometimes I’ll feature a book with a toy as I’ve done with the playdough tray. I keep homemade playdough (see recipe here) on a playdough tray with changing cookie cutters, small objects, and laminated printables. Right now, I’m featuring the Construction Worker Tools book with free construction counting dump truck playdough mats and free tools playdough mats, both from Preschool Play and Learn. Later, I’ll switch to the free construction playdough mats by Treasures for Thematic Teaching at Teachers Pay Teachers
The Multicraft trays come as a nested set, so I typically use one of the larger trays for the playdough activities. My 2½-year-old granddaughter, Sophia, especially loves playdough and uses it every day she visits. I often have laminated numbers and counters mats from one of our free playdough math packs on the tray. They’re a simple introduction to cards and counters at any time of year.
Shelves with Construction Toys and Printables
When they’re not in storage (out of rotation), I display my building materials and other toys on shelves similar to more traditional Montessori materials.
The majority of my materials and toys are made of natural materials, such as wood. Some of the building materials are plastic (such as the Magna-Tiles, LEGO, and DUPLO materials).
The printables with the MathLink Cubes and Magna-Tiles aren’t free, although they almost were and will be again early next week! They’re from the Ultimate Alphabet and Literacy Bundle that was on sale at an amazing price recently and will be featured in a flash sale early next week. Watch for my newsletter announcing the 2-day-only sale!
The printables on an easel by the LEGO container (which holds the bricks from the LEGO Classic Creative Bricks and LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box) are free from Picklebums. They’re building challenge cards.
On the bottom right is one of my favorite building materials for toddlers on up … Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks. The magnets aren’t accessible, which makes them a great introduction to magnetism. I don’t have a large, natural wooden block set, although I definitely recommend them for families. My granddaughters have my son’s large set from when he was a child.
Sally Sutton Construction Books and Construction Vehicle Labeling Activity
Sally Sutton Construction Book with Construction Vehicle Labeling Activity
I adore the Sally Sutton construction books with their rhythm and rhyme. They’re as much fun to read as they are for young children to listen to! You’ll see one of them on the shelf in an earlier photo and another one here.
The free printable is construction vehicle labeling by Imaginary Homeschool at Teachers Pay Teachers.
Cars, Trains, Ships & Planes Book with Construction Materials
Cars, Trains, Ships & Planes Book with Construction Materials
Free Printable: Free Printable: Construction Vehicles 3-Part Cards (plus definition cards) from Wise Owl Factory. I love that they include definition cards for reading to younger children and using with elementary-age children. I am still in love with this Montessori cards display box for for displaying both 3-part cards and 4-part cards. It’s so attractive and doesn’t take up much space on my shelf.
On a wooden cookbook holder, I have the DK Smithsonian Cars, Trains, Ships & Planes: A Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle. The DK Smithsonian books typically have gorgeous photos and are wonderful reference books that I use for many units. This book is no exception. My grandson absolutely loves this book!
Construction Sand Writing Tray with Movable Alphabet Spelling
Construction Sand Writing Tray with Movable Alphabet Spelling
Free Printables: construction letter c for salt writing tray and construction -tion phonogram card (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
You’ll see a variety of simple letter writing trays in my previous unit study posts. I often used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though.
I typically now use this lovely spelling/alphabet tray from FamilyTreeWW on Etsy. Since Zoey is 6, she is focusing on spelling a lot. She needs more room for writing longer words. We’re also working on cursive.
If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.
The construction workers on this tray and on the playdough tray are from two pretend professionals sets: this one and this one. My grandson has used the pretend professionals every day since they arrived. They’re great for pretend play, and they’re perfect for adding interest to units with community helpers.
Work with Hard Hat Alphabet in Manuscript and Cursive
Construction Word Booklet with Hard Hat Letters in Manuscript and Cursive
Free Printable: Construction Vocabulary by juf Annemarie at Teachers Pay Teachers. I just used the reference sheet. In the photo below, it’s printed out as is. Later, I cut out the individual pictures with words and made a miniature booklet (shown in the basket). That way, it’ll be fun for all my grandkids!
Free Printable: Hard Hat Movable Alphabet (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
Spelling Construction Words, Such as Wrench, with Hard Hat Letters in Print and Cursive
After laying out the letters in print and cursive, Zoey spelled words, such as wrench, using both the print and cursive letters.
Construction -tion Phonogram Card with -tion Booklet
Construction -tion Phonogram Card with -tion Booklet
Free Printable: construction -tion phonogram card (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Printable: Word Work tion by Only Fabb at Teachers Pay Teachers
This is for my 6-year-old granddaughter. For this work, I just cut out the printable into individual pages of a mini book. The cover is cut out from the printable, too. I like this for advanced readers who can see that even long words can often be “sounded out.” Depending on your child’s ability, you could included the easier words in your book or a variety of words like I did.
Construction-Themed Build a CVC Word Tray
Construction-Themed Build a CVC Word Tray
Free Printable: Build a CVC Word {Construction Themed} by Simple Living Creative Learning at Teachers Pay Teachers
This is a fun way to focus on CVC words. My 2½-year-old grandson was obsessed with our alphabet box and learning phonetic sounds. He then started blending words without difficulty. While I don’t push early reading, I do want to meet his interests and needs. I don’t use readers with him at this age, but I do include some fun blending activities such as this one for him. We only blend about 3 words at a time. I want it to remain fun for him! Since the photo was taken, I added Velcro dots to the printable pieces. After blending the word, Caleb likes to “drive” the dump truck with the picture!
Note: I just added a Multicraft tray and later added Velcro dots to the printable pieces.
DIY Construction Cards and Counters
DIY Construction Cards and Counters
Free Printable: excavator number cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
These DIY cards and counters are super-easy to prepare! We went on a nature walk one day and picked a basketful of small rocks. Then we had a practical life activity of rock washing. The rocks have been incredibly popular with my grandkids! They came in especially handy for this construction unit! You just need exactly 55 small rocks for DIY cards and counters 1-10.
Excavator and Dump Truck Counting or Addition Activity
Tray with Excavator and Dump Truck Counting Activity
Free Printables: game spinner and excavator number cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
Besides the rocks from our nature hike, I added a small Tonka truck (which I love because it’s inexpensive while still a sturdy die-cast truck) and Multicraft tray.
Counting Rocks into a Dump Truck with 1-10 Game Spinner and Excavator Number Cards
Caleb loves this activity! He spins the spinner and then counts out that number of rocks. Then he drives the rocks away!
Tray with Excavator and Dump Truck Addition Activity
This would work great for an addition activity for older kids, using 20 extra-small rocks with the spinner and adding rocks to the truck.
I Spy Construction Counting Activity
I Spy Construction Counting Activity
Free Printable: I Spy Construction Counting Activity from Paper Trail Design
In the bottom right corner of the first shelf, you’ll see the I Spy construction counting activity. It’s just a simple but fun way to focus on counting and visual discrimination. I have the child use a different color for each construction vehicle or object shown at the bottom of the printable. It makes the counting much easier!
When to Add Special Materials to Your Unit
The Ultimate Construction Site Book with Parts of the LEGO City Construction Bulldozer Set
I always include lots of books in our monthly units. Whether you purchase them or your books are from the library, I think books are an important part of any unit. Sometimes I’ll purchase an extra-special book based on my grandkids’ interests. One example is The Ultimate Construction Site Book shown here. It’s perfect for children who love little details and are able to handle moving parts, since this book has over 60 lift-the-flaps, pop-ups, and pull-tabs. But Caleb is in love with it!
The LEGO City Construction Bulldozer Set is something Chrissy and Tom, my son-in-law, purchased to go with Caleb’s construction unit. Even though Caleb is 2½, he no longer puts objects like LEGO bricks in his mouth. (Note: Don’t get toys and materials with small parts if your child mouths small objects.) Tom is a LEGO lover, so he and Caleb have lots of fun constructing with LEGO bricks and sets. It’s great for developing a wide range of skills and is perfect for fine-motor development. For Caleb, this is much more interesting than transferring objects using a Montessori-style tray. So don’t be afraid to individualize your home for your child’s interests. Montessori is a lifestyle, not a series of trays on the shelf!
Free Montessori-Inspired Construction Pack
Montessori-Inspired Construction Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Montessori-Inspired Construction Activities
Construction Vehicle Toys on Amazon
- Free Construction Vehicle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Construction Vehicle Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Construction Unit
- Free Construction Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Construction Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
- Free Construction Vehicle Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Construction Unit Study Pinterest Board
For Vehicle Lovers: More Montessori-Inspired Transportation Activities
The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Transportation Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Activities for Pre-Schoolers: Car Parking Game
- Free Transportation Printables and Montessori-Inspired Transportation Math Activities
- Free Construction Vehicle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Construction Vehicle Activities
- Free Construction Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Construction Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
- Free Construction Vehicle Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Construction Unit
- Free Police Printables and Montessori-Inspired Police Activities
- Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities
- Free Ambulance Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ambulance Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Train Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
- Free Train Printables and Montessori-Inspired Train Activities
- Free Car Printables and Montessori-Inspired Car Activities
- Super-Cool Beginning Reading Activity – Race Car Blending
- Free Car Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Car Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Fun Magnetic Vehicle STEM Trays and Activity Bags
- Spielgaben STEM Challenge: Build and Fly a Magnetic Airplane
- Montessori Resources for Land, Air, and Water Transportation Activities
- Transportation Unit Study Pinterest Board
Not Free, but Fun Montessori-Inspired Construction Printables
Roadwork: Road Construction Printable Pack for Hands-on Fun and Learning
Montessori-Inspired Construction Printables for Preschool Through Early Elementary
If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout October, see my October Themed Activities for Kids.
Have fun!
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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