Designing with and for Boris

How can you build Boris a nice place to live? How do you take different weather conditions into account? And how do we then move Boris' belongings to his new place? These are the design questions that preschoolers deal with when designing with and for Boris. 

The design questions are introduced through two picture books and a cuddly toy dog: Boris. The two picture books can be used separately or you can choose to first read the book 'Boris is looking for a place to live' and then the book 'Boris has to move'.

Boris is looking for a place to live
Boris has to look for a new place to live. However, there are all kinds of things outside that Boris has to take into account. Can you help him build a new place?

This book introduces a design problem to preschoolers. Various circumstances are then presented that preschoolers can take into account in their design. This way they can choose what they find important and what they want to work on. This assignment is suitable for children who enjoy pretend play and/or construction play. They can use both defined and open materials.. 

Boris has to move
Boris has to move his belongings to his new house. He tries to take his stuff with him in all kinds of ways, but it just doesn't work. Can you help Boris move his belongings?

This book introduces a design problem to preschoolers. It then presents several ways in which the design problem cannot be solved. The preschoolers can then think of and test solutions that do work. 
This assignment is suitable for children who like pretend play, but children with a preference for construction play can also enjoy it. The children use defined materials and learn to take dimensions, weight and other properties into account.

The picture books can be downloaded for free below:

These design assignments were created by Leonie Sonneveld during her graduation project. She investigated how play preferences of preschoolers influence the interaction with a design assignment. The focus of the design assignments was developing spatial skills. The overview of different playing preferences and a booklet and worksheet with which teachers can develop design assignments themselves, can be found here.

Many thanks to teacher Romy and her preschoolers from 'Kindcentrum de Buskes' in Rotterdam.