Tool Discussion

During group time, bring out a toolbox full of tools - either real or from a toy set. 
Talk about how each tool is used and point out how to handle each one safely. 

House Discussion

Lead a short discussion with the children to establish their ideas about
 how a house is constructed.  Encourage them to express their individual opinions
 about what comes first in the construction.  Allow the children to share different opinions. 

Our Dream Home:

Materials Needed:
newspaper ads for home-improvement stores,
 scissors, bulletin board paper, glue sticks, markers

Directions:
Using ads from the paper you can write a class story about building a dream house.
 Have each child cut out a picture of an item or a material she'd like to add to the house.
 Roll out a length of bulletin board paper and invite each child to glue down his/her picture and
 write or dictate about it. Before long, you'll have all the parts to make a very interesting home!

Tools and Safety

Discuss safety rules that should be followed when using tools such as hammers, saws, etc.
 Why can these be dangerous? Why do you suppose construction men wear hardhats?

Word Wall

Build a firm foundation of literacy skills with this interactive wallpaper. In advance, "wallpaper"
 your literacy center walls with home improvement ads.  Also, fill the pockets of a carpenter's
 apron with magnetic letters.  When a child visits this center have him/her remove a letter from
 one of the pockets. Next ask the child to search the wallpaper to find words (or pictures of things)
 beginning with that letter. Have the child use a highlighter to circle the words or pictures.
  For younger children, have them just identify and highlight the corresponding letters found in the ads.