This picture is from a lesson that links Language Arts and Mathematics in the exploration of the 3-D shapes and the story of Goldilocks.  Simply making 3-D objects without finding something to connect them too is too abstract for young children.  I even tried to create boxes with them before I developed this lesson.  I soon discovered that they did not know why we were making the boxes and they just could not persist enough to make them.  However, when I introduced the idea of creating a stage for our favourite story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and I suggested that they create chairs and beds for the bears the students were very impressed with the idea!