Excellerations® Foam Floor Building Planks Set of 24

Description

This 24-piece foam building set gives children the freedom to construct large-scale projects without the safety concerns of traditional wooden blocks. Each lightweight plank features realistic wood grain design and comes in two widths (2-inch and 4-inch) and two lengths (12-inch and 18-inch), providing versatile building options for creative construction.

The durable foam construction makes these planks safe for ambitious builders who want to create tall structures. Unlike heavy wooden blocks that can cause injury when they fall, these foam planks let kids experiment boldly with engineering concepts and architectural designs. The weather-resistant material works equally well indoors and outdoors, and cleanup is simple with just soap and water.

How Homeschoolers Can Use This Product

Educational Benefits Across Subjects

These building planks naturally integrate multiple learning areas into hands-on activities. Math concepts come alive as children measure lengths, calculate perimeters, and explore geometric relationships. Science lessons emerge through experimentation with balance, stability, and structural engineering principles. Fine motor skills develop through precise placement and manipulation, while gross motor skills strengthen during large construction projects.

STEM Learning Activities

Create structured engineering challenges by asking students to build bridges that span specific distances or towers that reach certain heights using limited pieces. Introduce basic physics by testing which structures can support weight (use lightweight objects like stuffed animals). Explore symmetry and patterns by building matching structures or creating repeating designs.

Cross-Curricular Lesson Extensions

Use the planks to build historical structures while studying ancient civilizations or American history. Recreate famous buildings or create original architectural designs that reflect different time periods. For literature studies, have children build settings from stories they’re reading or design homes for book characters.

Practical Learning Applications

The planks work well for hands-on fraction lessons – use the different lengths to demonstrate halves, thirds, and quarters. Practice measurement skills by having children estimate and then verify plank dimensions. Develop spatial reasoning through three-dimensional puzzle-solving and pattern recognition.

Multi-Age Family Learning

The simple concept accommodates various skill levels, making it perfect for families with children of different ages. Younger children focus on basic stacking and sorting, while older students tackle complex engineering challenges. Collaborative building projects encourage teamwork and communication skills across age groups.

Indoor and Outdoor Flexibility

The weather-resistant foam allows learning to continue outside, where larger construction projects have more space to expand. Outdoor use also provides opportunities to incorporate natural elements like leaves, sticks, or stones into building designs, extending creative possibilities.