Yesterday we were constructing with styrofoam. It was a completely open-ended activity that ended up being WAY bigger and better than I’d imagined it would be! Don’t you love it when that happens?
Recently Jamie from hands on: as we grow wrote about the fun that her boys had with their styrofoam destruction activity, and I immediately went to the garage and rescued a couple of large pieces of styrofoam that I’d added to our growing “dump run” pile.
For this activity, I set out the styrofoam along with some golf tees, craft sticks, chopped up drinking straws, some rocks (hammers) and a few “saws” (a play dough knife, a cake decorating tool and a plastic knife).
Now, maybe it was because I just happened to have two construction-lovin’ boys here today, but this may have been one of our most popular activities yet.
I didn’t give them any instruction other than to tell them how the “tools” could be used to secure the styrofoam blocks together. They wasted no time getting right to work and straight into full concentration mode:
sawing,
hammering,
cutting,
poking,
manipulating,
assembling,
and hammering some more. (that was their favourite part)
They deconstructed and reconstructed
with determined looks on their faces.
They worked away for over an hour, in a flurry of busy activity, until they felt that their projects were complete, and even then they returned to the table through-out morning and afternoon to tweak a piece here or there and to hammer in another golf tee or to cut another piece of foam.
They were so proud of their finished projects.
The builder of this next piece announced that his was an “ice house”. 
What a hit! Simple materials, no cost and loads of creative fun!
If you’re looking for another activity similar to this one, have a look at last year’s styrofoam structures The Hooligans had a great time making those too.
And don’t forget to visit us on Facebook! Our page is brimming with ways to get crafty and creative with your little ones!
https://www.facebook.com/happyhooligansblog
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Love it & the looks of concentration are priceless. Kierna
Yes, when those little tongues start sticking out, you know they’re hard at work, Kierna!
OMG JACKIE, It’ excellent activity. My boys is going to love.
Thank you! Have fun with it, Janire!!
My son would LOVE this! My fav is the plastic saw thing— what is that? I just love how safe it is, but also how they can really do some cool stuff with it. You are a genius!
Thanks, Jen. It’s just a cake decorating tool.
What a WONDERFUL activity! I love it! And it looks like your kiddos did too!
I shared this on Facebook for other mommas to see!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you! Yes! They had a blast!
Did you make the holes in your craft sticks or did they come that way? I have some craft sticks like that but not with holes. If you made the holes, I’d be interested in knowing how (other than with a drill I guess–maybe there is a better way??) Otherwise, my son will definitely love this project. Thanks!
No, our craft sticks came like this. The skinny dowel-like sticks came with them. It’s some sort of building set. One of my daycare moms was cleaning out her classroom a few years back and didn’t want them, so she donated them to our daycare, so I don’t even know what they’re rightfully called. Sorry I can’t be of more help!.
wonderful idea
Hi, any suggestion for the cleaning up? we always struggel to get the tiny static pieces off the floor/grass. we love the activity though! Thanks!
The only time there were little bits to bother with was when I was cutting the blocks, so I just cut the blocks (with a bread knife) outside. If you were cutting them inside, I’d just have the vac. handy for clean up when you finished cutting them.