NGSS Standard Alignment:

-       4.ETS2.1

 

The gingerbread fair is open, and teams of children are baking building and decorating they're gingerbread houses in the hopes that they will win. But the gingerbread houses have guidelines, the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside the house. This story follows a team as they struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. This book is a great example that sometimes our prototypes do not end out as we had hoped. But that we can always overcome our problems, plan, and try again.

 

This book aligns with “The House that Lou Built” by Even though both houses gingerbread and tiny house do not turn out in the end (pg. 198 & 206), Both characters are determined (pg. 90) to try again and not give up on their ideas. Both books showed the testing process, and how sometimes the first idea you have may not turn out, but that is not reason to give up.

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

From a young age, Violet Van Winkle can tinker with any appliance in the house and build elaborate machines and contraptions. Many of her fellow students tease her, but she doesn't let that affect her. Violet decides to compete in the upcoming air show, and maybe win the respect of her fellow peers. 

 

This book aligns with “The House that Lou Built” by in the beginning of the book, a few of loose classmates make fun of her for her expansive imagination (pg.13). But Lou looks past all this and continues to work towards her goals of building her tiny house. In the end, all those people who doubted her end up becoming her biggest supporters (pg. 206).

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

This story follows an idea. This idea is brought to the world by a child, but as the child's confidence grows the idea grows. In this book tells students that no idea is too big, or too odd, or too difficult. Even when it seems that your idea is not going to happen, it may just be the beginning.

 

This book aligns with “The House that Lou Built” by highlighting a young person with an idea, and their determination to see their idea come to fruition (pg. 90). Lou has and imagination that aids her idea of her tiny house (pg. 11 & 13), She comes up with many different aspects and ideas of her tiny house that she wants to implement. But just like the child in the “What Do You Do With An Idea”, Lou is giving her idea time to grow instead of rushing it.

NGSS Standard Alignment:

-       4.ETS2.1

 

Dr. Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism when she was a young girl. No one believed that could become one of the most influential voices in science. But her determination and her use of visual thinking helped her achieve that goal, And she created inventions to improve farms around the world.

 

This book aligns with “The House that Lou Built” by exploring a story of a female in STEM (pg. 2), who is determined (pg. 90) to view science through her own perspective. Both girls view their dreams through different lenses than the people around them, proving the doubters wrong (pg. 166). 

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

Robert is a young boy living in San Francisco with his father. His father is building the impossible bridge, the golden gate bridge. Robert's father is a Skywalker, one of the high climbing iron workers. Robert and his father learned throughout this journey that it takes an entire team to accomplish the impossible.

 

This book aligns with “The house that Lou Built” by highlighting teamwork and supporting each other (pg. 200). As well as being set in the city of San Francisco, building the impossible bridge that many said would never be built (pg. 52).

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

Rosie lives a double life. During the day she is a quiet young girl, but by night she's a brilliant inventor coming up with different ideas and dreaming of becoming an engineer. Once her aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) comes to visit, Rosie works hard to make her aunt's dream of flying come true. Rosie embarks on a journey through a growth mindset and learns that the only way to truly fail is if you quit.

 

This book aligns with “The House that Lou Built” by exploring the growth mindset. Even though both of their inventions do not turn out at the end (pg. 198), both girls walk away having learned lessons (pg. 226) and become determined to try again (pg.227).

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

Possibility is all around us, and this book highlights the many different possibilities that you could have in your future. This book is not just about becoming an architect, but it is about exploring the design and construction that goes into architecture. This book inspires students and shows them that there is no possibility that they cannot reach. 

 

This book aligns with “The house that Lou Built” by Exploring all the different aspects of becoming an architect, just like Lou is exploring all the different aspects of building her house (pg. 124). 

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

We can make a lot of things, but how many of these things can we make in a day? This story follows a girl as she engages the reader in a discussion about the things that we make and how they can make a difference in the world. This book also expands on the engineering side of making things and also the social aspect of making things, such as making friends.

 

This book aligns with “The house that Lou Built” by engaging readers in discussions about engineering, building, and creativity (pg. 13 & 73). This book also connects to Lou by highlighting making friends (pg.63 & 225) and getting out of the house and off of technology to play (pg. 73). 

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

This colorful book discusses all the different kinds of bridges that have been invented and that we use today. Bridges are an engineering feat, and there are some pretty iconic bridges around the world today!

 

This book aligns with “The house that Lou Built” by highlighting the different engineering styles of bridges, such is the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge (pg. 52). Lou travels around San Francisco researching and studying different styles of houses, but during this research she is in awe at the different architectural and engineering feats that surround her (pg. 78, 63, & 1). 

NGSS Standard Alignment:

- 4.ETS2.1

 

Mattie, or “The Lady Edison”, this 12-year-old girl armed with her sketchbook and her father's toolbox. This amazing inventor at a very young age designed a metal guard to prevent textile looms from injuring workers. After this she invented the machine that makes the paper bags that we use today. When a man challenges her claim this invention, she proves him wrong and that it is in fact her invention.

 

This book aligns with “The house that Lou Built” by highlighting a determined (pg. 90) woman in STEM (pg. 2). Lou and Mattie both experienced people underestimating them as they pursue their dreams of inventing and building a tiny home (pg. 166). Both girls are put in positions where their dreams and ideas are threatened by other people’s underestimation and greed (pg. 164).