Architect: One who designs buildings.
Boxitect: One who makes things out of boxes.
Obviously.
If you’ve been collecting makerspace literature, add this new one by Kim Smith to your list. It’s a fun story about Meg, a boxitect, who has a serious passion for constructing things out of old boxes.
Meg loves school, and the thing Meg loves most about school is that she’s the only boxitect around. Well, until Simone shows up. Cue the villainous music.
Jealously, competition, and disaster ensue until the girls learn to accept their differences and work together.
A special feature of this book is the how-to page spread at the end of the story. The author includes a step by step layout explaining how to make a castle using boxes.👇
We happen to be studying procedural texts in our writing block right now, so this page ties in perfectly with that instruction.
WHY DO I LIKE THIS BOOK?
- The main characters are girls and I think we need to make sure we’re sharing examples that depict females engaged in math and science work.
- Thanks to the plot, there’s an opportunity to talk about conflict resolution and the benefits of teamwork and a shared vision.
- The author includes a nonfiction text feature at the end of the literary story. It’s an unexpected touch the kids love.
- It inspires imagination and creative work.
Now all you need is a bunch of boxes!
MORE MAKERSPACE LITERATURE
When you’re collecting makerspace literature, look for these titles too! They’re kid-favorites!
- Be a Maker by Katey Howes
- Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
- What to Do with a Box by Jane Yolen
- The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
- Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
And Brooke, from Teach Outside the Box, has a blog post you’ll like: TOP 10 READ ALOUDS FOR ELEMENTARY MAKERSPACES. In her post, she shares ten great titles plus follow-up maker activities for each one.
RELATED BLOG POST
Let’s hear it for the girls! (Or, in this case, women.) We love these stories about female inventors and their creative ideas that changed our world: FEMALE INVENTORS WHO CHANGED OUR LIVES.👇
Happy teaching!
