Everything is Awesome: Learning Across the Curriculum with LEGOs

Building Science Understanding

Science concepts, especially at the elementary and middle school level, can feel abstract and  overwhelming to students. When students use LEGOs to build models of solids, liquids, and gases or simulate a food chain with LEGO creatures, the concepts become tangible and meaningful. LEGOs can also be used to create landform models or show the structure of DNA. Physics teacher Lewis Matheson (@LEGOPhysicsGuy) has some great examples of his use of LEGOs in class, including the explanation of fission and fusion.

LEGO bricks are the perfect way to learn and implement the engineering and design process. Give students a problem to solve with LEGO bricks, and guide them through the brainstorm, plan, build, test, and evaluate steps. Have students share their solutions with the class. Students should understand that they can change their design to be more effective at any step along the way. Make sure to have students reflect on their build and learning process.

Looking to integrate computer science? Start with students following a LEGO-created algorithm and then advance to creating their own ten-piece model and writing their own algorithm for their classmates to solve. During this activity, students will also learn the importance of “sequence.”  This activity introduces key vocabulary and concepts to beginning-level computer science students.

I also have my students build marble mazes and then create a set of instructions to solve the maze. Older students can use words like right and left, younger students can use arrows instead of words.

Social Studies in 3D

Forget flat posters and worksheets. With LEGO, students can build historical dioramas, population pyramids, and geographic maps. They can re-create famous landmarks or imagine their own civilizations. Even better, they can role-play historic scenarios and explore multiple perspectives.

Math You Can Hold

From fractions to symmetry, perimeter, and place value, math comes alive when students manipulate physical bricks. It looks like play, but it is all standards-based. 

Students can 

• Use LEGO to construct a bar graph
  
• Solve story problems using the studs as units.
  
• Create examples of symmetry using bricks. One of my favorite examples has students draw one side of a butterfly’s wings and construct the matching opposite side out of bricks.
  
• Use LEGO pieces to measure classroom items and then compare to inches and feet. This is a great activity to use as a follow-up to the book, How Big Is a Foot?
  

Literacy and Language—Brick by Brick

Language arts teachers, don’t feel left out. There are many ways you can incorporate LEGO fun in your classrooms as well.

With a label maker and a few quick alterations, younger students can create sight word towers, spell out words with letter bricks, or match uppercase and lowercase bricks. 

Older students can dive into creative writing with prompts like:

“While cleaning up the LEGO bin after recess, I discovered a strange brick I’d never seen before…”

Are you tired of reading boring book reports? Are your students tired of writing boring book reports? Have students recreate a scene from their book using LEGO bricks. For this activity, I would recommend having structured guidelines and expectations from the start, as well as a rubric for students to follow.

Students can also employ this strategy in reverse, as well. Have them construct a scene and then, using their best descriptive language, write about their creation. 

What are my next LEGO lessons?

Next year, I will be using LEGO bricks in all of my grade levels. 

In sixth grade, during our space unit, students will be constructing simple builds while wearing heavy winter gloves to simulate the challenges of working in space. 

Fifth grade students will be using the engineering and design process to construct wind-powered (a giant fan) LEGO racers. We’ll brainstorm, plan, build, test, and evaluate until one racer comes out on top as the champion!

My fourth graders will be reading the book The Perfect Seat together and then using LEGO bricks to construct the “perfect seat” for an action figure using the engineering and design process. No two groups will have the same action figure, and they will all be different sizes and poses. I can’t wait to try this one!

A Little More LEGO

LEGO does have several kit options to teach robotics and computer science. They have elementary and junior high options. These kits can be pricey, but the included lessons are well-thought-out and engaging. 

In August, LEGO launched a new standards-based science kit and curriculum. I’ve only had a glance at it, but it looked interesting. Information can be found on the LEGO Education website.

LEGO bricks aren’t just for boys! LEGO has a “She Built That” campaign to encourage women and girls to join in the fun of creativity and building. 

Ready to Build?

Don’t have any LEGO bricks in your classroom? Ask your school family and community. Many have tubs of them stored in attics and basements that they are willing to part with. They don’t need to be in sets or have instructions. You just need the bricks. 

Worried about germs? LEGO bricks can be washed in warm water with a mild detergent. Don’t put your pieces in the dishwasher or washing machine. High heat can cause the bricks to become misshapen and not work so well anymore. 

Not to put a damper on all of our LEGO fun, but make sure that students know there is an academic goal to the activity. What they do during inside recess or free play time is not the same as your structured, but fun, activity. Check in with them as they work and set your expectations for work and clean-up time. 

Let’s keep building something awesome—brick by brick.