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Things That Go: Build It!. Explore how things move and build with blocks, boxes, and bricks. This is Month 9 of our free 12-month preschool curriculum for ages 3 to 5. Below you will find a weekly lesson plan, the letters and math to practice, science and art ideas, a supplies list, and easy ways to make it simpler or harder for your child.
- Month 9 of 12
- Ages 3–5 (best fit: 4–5)
- 4 weekly topics
- About 20–30 minutes a day
What Your Child Will Learn in Month 9
- New letters
- Review letters and sounds. Match uppercase to lowercase letters.
- Language & literacy
- Dictate a sentence like “I see a ___” and practice following two- and three-step directions.
- Math
- Use position words (over, under, between), measure length with cubes, make AAB and ABC patterns, and count wheels.
- Science & discovery
- Push and pull. Test which car rolls farthest down a ramp.
- Social & emotional
- Teamwork: build something together and share the materials.
- Art & music
- Cardboard-box vehicle and a road mural.
- Movement & hands
- Practice zippers and buttons on a dress-up board. Ride a tricycle, bike, or scooter.
These goals match the five learning areas in the Head Start framework. Core goals are for most children. Anything marked stretch is optional. See the full list of learning areas and the typical milestones for ages 4 and 5.
Month 9 Weekly Lesson Plan
Do one short activity from each column, three or four days a week. Keep each one to about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop when your child loses interest.
| Week & topic | Letters & language | Math | Science | Art, music & movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Cars, trucks, and trains | Say a sentence: I see a ___ with ___ wheels. | Count wheels on cars, trucks, and bikes. | Roll different wheels and see which goes farthest. | Make a road mural with tape and markers. |
| Week 2: Boats and airplanes | Learn position words with a toy boat: in, on, under, next to. | Sort vehicles by where they go: land, water, or air. | Test which objects float to make a boat. | Fold a paper boat or plane. |
| Week 3: Ramps and motion | Follow two-step directions: put the car on the ramp, then let it go. | Measure how far a car goes using cubes. | Test a steep ramp and a gentle ramp and guess first. | Race cars and cheer. |
| Week 4: Build it! Bridges and towers | Tell the story of what they built. | Count blocks in a tower and compare to a friend’s. | Test which shapes make the strongest bridge. | Build a city together from boxes and blocks. |
Not sure how to fit this into your day? Use the sample daily rhythm.
Letters to Practice This Month
Review letters and sounds. Match uppercase to lowercase letters..
Play with letters through games, not drills: find them on signs and cereal boxes, trace them in sand or salt, and say the first sound of everyday objects. Knowing some letters is a typical milestone at age 5, so there is no pressure to master every letter.
Words to Use All Month
Use these words in everyday conversation and while you read. Hearing a word in many settings helps it stick.
- wheel
- ramp
- push
- pull
- roll
- bridge
- tower
- build
Supplies Checklist
Everything here is common household stuff. Tick items off as you gather them.
Easy Activities to Try at Home
Try this
- Ramp race: lean a book on pillows and test which toy car goes farthest.
- Tower challenge: build the tallest tower you can and measure it with cubes.
- Tape city: make roads on the floor with painter’s tape and drive cars through town.
Read together
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
- Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty
Check your local library. Ask the librarian for more things that go: build it! books.
Make It Easier or Harder
If your child needs more support
Use big blocks and one-step directions.
If your child is ready for more
Make a prediction chart: guess, test, and record which car goes farthest.
Parent tip: Let your child fail safely. A tower that falls is a great chance to try again and talk about why.
Month check-in: Your child can follow a two-step direction and use position words correctly.
Month 9 Preschool Curriculum FAQs
What if my child is not interested in vehicles?
Switch to something they love, like animals or princesses, and add ramps, building, and counting to that theme.
Which fine motor skills matter most before kindergarten?
Using child-safe scissors, holding a crayon with fingers, buttoning, and zipping all help. Practice a little every day.
How do I teach position words?
Use real objects and say the words as you move them: the car is under the table. Play a game of where is the bear.
All 12 Months
Add Free Printables to Month 9
Match this month’s lessons with free printables and coloring pages.
Sources
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five
- NAEYC: Developmentally Appropriate Practice
- CDC: Milestones by 4 Years
- CDC: Milestones by 5 Years
This guide is general educational information for parents. It is not medical advice and does not replace a developmental screening or guidance from your child’s doctor or teacher.