The block center is often misunderstood, understocked and underdeveloped in many early childhood classrooms due to any number of factors, such as lack of resources, a fear of giving children some control of this area during free play, or a limited understanding of what types of mathematical and engineering skills children can practice while engaging there. This session will provide practical strategies for optimizing the construction center to support intentional and productive STEM related activity and learning. The presenter will share ideas on ways to link children's informal knowledge with children’s literature and other mathematical or engineering objectives to create meaningful, culturally relevant investigations and projects that engage young learners at the construction center. These block building experiences can thereby serve as a catalyst for substantial learning across all domains of development.