Building forts was always one of my favorite past times as a kid. My brother and I would build them inside with couch cushions or outside with whatever materials we could fine. We’d spend hours building and playing.

Building with kids is not only fun, but builds skills such as innovation, creativity, confidence, and teamwork. It’s great to let kids loose to create on their own, but sometimes it’s also good to work together and introduce new ideas to get those little brains really working.

Fort Building for Innovation

Building anything requires math and science skills. Help your kids to think through the process of what to build, how, why, etc. While also encouraging creativeness, ingenuity, and encouraging mistakes. Making mistakes is a sure way to learn to a better way on the next try!

Building a fort using the Galileo method:

 

1. Create a list of goals

This can be written down or verbally discussed. Before the actual building begins, ask some questions; how big should the fort be? How many people will be playing in it. Do you want it to have multiple rooms or just one large one? Will it have a roof? A door?

2. Collaborate/brainstorm

Take the goals you just came up with and think on how you can make them a reality. What materials will you use? How will you make it sturdy enough?  If using blankets, for example, how will you hold them up and/or hold more than one together?

3. Discuss importance of being visionary

There are no wrong ideas. Let your kids know you will not laugh at anything they come up with, you’re just there to help them think through how to make it happen. Some ideas may work and some not, but you never know until you try them out.

4. Courageously create

Along those same lines, don’t be afraid to try. If it doesn’t work the way you wanted or expected, you’re learning so you can do it better the next time!

5. Keep your determination and test your project

Continue to try new ways of building. Test areas that are not holding up by using a different material or fastener. Let your kids do most of the experimenting and allow them to make mistakes and ask when they want help or need suggestions. When they do make an improvement the confidence and pride will show!

6. Reflect: evaluate what worked and what didn’t as you begin re-design

When fort play is over, discuss what worked and what did not. Talk about why and discuss what they might do differently next time.

 

Galileo is teaching kids from pre-k through 8th grade to explore while encouraging them to make mistakes and create without fear!

For kids preschool through 5th grade, there’s Camp Galileo.

Campers at this summer camp take on art, science, and outdoor activities. They learn lasting innovation skills like collaboration and reflection and take home tangible creations like a rocket, photos inspired by Ansel Adams, or even an archery bow!

For kids entering 5th grade through 8th grade there’s Galileo Summer Quest.

Campers at this day camp choose from many immersive majors, each gives them an opportunity to realize their own vision in an inspiring subject, builds confidence and teamwork. Campers in this art camp and science camp make short films, engineer catapults, whip up inventive dishes, design custom video games, and much more.

Only the best mentors

One of the most impactful things about the Galileo experience is the staff and how much heart and energy they bring to camp every day. They find the absolute best people to work at their camps who not only have the silly gene but a deep passion for education and developing young innovators as well.

Sign up now for major Galileo savings this summer!

Get an exclusive discount of $40 off a week of Galileo Camp using code BEBOLD.
Combine this promotion with the Refer-a-Friend savings and save an additional $100*!

*The Refer-a-Friend savings applies to not only you, but your friends too! It’s a win-win for everyone! The more friends you bring and the more weeks they attend, the more they’ll save. *Savings varies by location.