Built for Shelter
Prep/K–2 Inquiry Resource Bundle
What makes a shelter work?
A doorway that is too small. A roof that bends. A sheltered spot just right for a favourite toy.
Built for Shelter invites children to explore shelters around them, compare materials and design a model for a toy animal with particular needs.
Through looking, building and gentle testing, children gather clues, explain their choices and discover what they might change.
Created for home learning families, teachers and educators, this coordinated bundle brings together a colour information magazine, a black-and-white student inquiry journal and a practical Companion Guide.
What’s included
Resource |
Format |
What you’ll find |
Information magazine |
30 colour A4 portrait pages |
Accessible explanations, watercolour illustrations, shelter comparisons, material explorations, model-building instructions and simple tests. |
Student inquiry journal |
24 black-and-white A4 portrait pages |
Sprout, Willow Wisp and Brainy, playful colouring details and generous unlined spaces for questions, plans, observations and reflection. |
Companion Guide |
12 colour A4 portrait pages |
Practical invitations, discussion prompts, resource page links and guidance for supporting inquiry through the Kind Connections Learning Approach. |
66 pages across three downloadable PDFs.
What children can explore
Children are invited to:
Notice how shelters provide cover or protection.
Compare shapes, openings, supports and materials.
Choose a toy animal and imagine its shelter needs.
Decide what their model needs to do and how they could check it.
Plan, build and test a small model shelter.
Explore fit, shade, a gentle breeze or a little pretend rain.
Record observations, change one feature and compare their tries.
Share a discovery and collect another question.
The resources distinguish what children observe from ideas that need further investigation. A short model test becomes a starting point for thinking, questioning and trying again.
A flexible inquiry journey
The bundle follows six connected engagements: Immersion, Interest, Investigation, Integration, Imagination and Inspire.
Children can return to an earlier question, spend longer exploring materials or revisit their model as their thinking develops.
There is no fixed timetable. Drawing, talking, building, pointing, photographs and adult scribing all offer ways to document learning.
The Companion Guide supports families and educators to notice children’s interests, offer practical help and adjust the environment or pace while keeping children’s ideas central.
Simple materials, thoughtful exploration
Begin with a toy animal and everyday materials such as clean boxes, card, paper, fabric, tape and large blocks.
Optional tests use stiff card, tissue, a tray and a little water.
Adult support is needed for cutting and testing.
Models are for toys only, and outdoor observation encourages children to leave animal homes undisturbed.
Resource details
Designed for: Prep, Kindergarten and Years 1–2
Learning focus: Materials, shelter needs, design, observation, testing and communication
Format: Three PDF files, A4 portrait
Printing: Colour magazine and Companion Guide; black-and-white student journal
Language: Australian English
Digital download only. No physical resources, toys or building materials are included.
Choose a toy, gather a few materials and begin with a wondering: what would help this shelter work?
