Open Ended Prompts- Upper Elementary School

 As we face down long stretches of time quarantined into our houses, I'm hearing from a lot of parents that they need a start point for bored kids. Unstructured time is great for building the foundations to executive functioning skills, but what if your child needs a little help to get going? Give them one of these open ended challenges and see what happens! These prompts are probably best suited for second grade and up. Show off a picture of your child's finished project in the comments.

• Build a rocket launcher out of popsicle sticks and rubber bands
• Build a safe to protect a treasure out of (Lego, paper, cardboard, etc)
• Build a chain reaction (video example)
• Make a musical instrument out of things you can find in your house
• Make a shadow clock with a paper plate and mark off the hours
• Make a wild animal feeder (bird, etc)
• Create your dream bedroom, draw the plans out on grid paper
• Build a boat that floats out of (foil, recycled plastic, paper, Lego, model magic, etc)
• Write a comic strip about a cat and a dog who are brother and sister
• Build a marble run out of (Lego, paper, paper towels tubes, etc)
• Make a parachute that works for a barbie/ action figure. Have mom or dad drop it from the tallest spot to test it. 
• Build a life size version of Mario Kart, Fortnite, Minecraft, etc (any game they are into)
• Build with eyes closed for 5 minutes. Open your eyes- you have 10 minutes to turn it into something recognizable. 
• Make a hovercraft with 2 balloons, anything from your recycling bin, tape and string or yarn
• Make a working Lego zip line
• Make a playground out of items from the recycling bin
• Make a container for pencils or crayons out of Lego
• Make a sculpture of a square building using only paper, and tape

Specific Lego Challenges:

• Build a robot who can move his arms and legs
• Build a catapult
• Build a Safari Park
• Build a car and ramp off the edge of the table. What car will go furthest?
• Build a maze for a mouse
• Build a rainbow
• Build a castle
• How tall of a tower can you make out of 50 pieces?
• Build an animal
• Build a bridge
• Build a plane
• Build a board game
• Build a pyramid
• Try to sink a Minifigure 
• Build a house
• Build your name 

Build your private island out of Lego- now solve one of the following problems (idea credit to Lego Librarian)

1. A volcano is sending hot lava your way- save yourselves
2. A hurricane is coming, you must create a strong shelter with a roof
3. A rescue plane is overhead, how can you signal them?
4. Zombies are invading the island- how will you protect yourself
5. You’re really bored- build something to entertain yourself
6. You're thirsty, build a new source of water
7. You're expecting company- make a space to share with a new friend
8. You have no power and must build something to create electricity
9. There’s a thief on the island, you must build a trap to catch them
10. Build a trap to catch a wild animal for a pet, then build the pet
11. Build a robot to do an island chore for you
    
12. Pirates are going to steal your stuff- build something to protect it and scare them off
13. You're tired of walking everywhere-build a vehicle
    
14. Your island is starting to sink- build something tall to get to higher ground
15. Your island is now a hot vacation spot, build something to bring in tourists