Books and Builds at Hurt Park Elementary

Books and Builds is currently working with approximately 20 students at Hurt Park Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia. The program was created to give children in underserved schools more opportunities to explore STEM while also reinforcing reading and literacy.

Each session begins with a picture book and a snack. After the story, tarps are spread across the floor and covered with LEGO bricks. The students are then given a building challenge inspired by a theme, idea, character, or problem from the book they just heard.

The students use the LEGO bricks to turn ideas from the story into something they can design and build themselves. When everyone is finished, the group goes around and each child has a chance to explain what they made and the thinking behind it.

At the end of the session, each student receives a plastic bag for the LEGO creation so the build can go home with them. The goal is simple: connect books with building so that reading, creativity, problem-solving, and STEM exploration all become part of the same experience.