Boat Building Like Dad
Based on The Boy Who Built the Boat by Ross Mueller
Henry wants to be like his dad. He wants to use tools, have big ideas, and most importantly, build boats like his father. In The Boy Who Built the Boat by Ross Mueller (Allen & Unwin, 2006) we learn the importance of encouraging the creativity and invention of children as they imitate us. Delightful language and jaunty illustrations capture the fun of creating little gadgets that work. Large clear text and repetitious language make this book accessible to some early readers with only a little help from mom or dad. As you read this nautical tale together, use any of the following ideas to spur conversation.
Boat building: Henry learns how make a boat by watching his dad. After reading this story, most children will want to try their hands at making boats of their own. Test your boats in the bathtub or wheelbarrow as Henry did. Allow your child to experiment with what works. (Hint: A boat with two keels balances more easily than a boat with just one.)
Workshop: Henry’s dad’s shed is filled with tools, sawdust, and big ideas. It is easy to be obsessed with having all the right tools. Talk about the idea that tools are only a part of the creative process. It is the big ideas that fuel the process.
Dad’s Example: Henry’s primary motivation is to be like his father. What must it do for Henry when his dad is impressed with his work? In what ways does your child admire his father? Can you make a list? Have your child share this list with his dad. It is sure to be encouraging.
Tools: It is important to have the right tools for the job. This is as true in boat making as it is in many areas, including woodworking, cleaning, cooking, drawing, writing, and painting. Talk about the various tools used in each of these endeavors. Make a list of different jobs and the tools needed to complete them.
Responsibility: Find the picture of Henry gathering his various “useful bits and pieces” to return to his dad’s shed. When discussing the enjoyment of using the right tools for the job, it may be a good time to discuss asking for permission to borrow tools and to return them after they are used.
Boat Terminology: Common nautical terms such as mast and sails may not be familiar to a young child. Who is the captain of the boat? Point out the captain’s hat that Henry puts on.
Naming Boats: Henry chooses to name his boat the SS Henry. SS can stand for steam ship. Discuss this common abbreviation and watch for boat and ship names that begin with this abbreviation.
Siblings: One sweet aspect of this story is Henry’s willingness to include his sister in his building project to “make sure he measured correctly.” Do you think her excitement encouraged him? How might she have reacted differently if Henry had chosen not to include her for fear that she might mess something up. Discuss this with your child (and remember it the next time your child asks to help you).
Measurement: Use a ruler to measure things in your home. Measure paper, books, dinner plates, doors and windows, and anything your child desires. If you like, record the length of each object on a homemade chart. Children often find a tape measure exciting to use. Allowing many concrete activities such as these will build your child’s mathematical awareness naturally.
Making an Ocean: How is a wheelbarrow full of water from the hose like an ocean? Children are especially good at this way of representing something large with something small; thus, a block becomes a car or a building. If you don’t have a wheelbarrow, perhaps you can use a bucket or dishpan to create your own ocean. Water play (especially outside on a patio) is a useful means of learning for young children.
Tidal Pools: After the successful test run in the wheelbarrow, Henry, his dad, and his sister take the boat down to the sea and sail it in a tidal pool. Find out more about these interesting ecosystems.
Sing: This is an opportune time to teach the familiar tune, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Expand your literature study into a unit study using resources such as these:
The Boat Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta (Charlesbridge, 2003).
Boats by Shana Corey (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2001).
Harbor by Donald Crews (1982; reprinted, Mulberry Books, 1987).
Tools by Taro Miura (Chronicle Books, 2006).
Tool Book by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House, 1988).
Tools by Ann Morris (HarperTrophy, 1998).
Life in a Tide Pool by Allan Fowler (Children's Press, 1997).
Ocean Tide Pool by Arthur John L'Hommedieu (Children's Press, 1998).