You might not know it, because they are so much fun, but LEGO is a great way to get students interested in STEM! Besides helping to build motor skills and creativity, LEGO can be used for learning math, science, engineering, and much more!
The Science of LEGO
There are many ways to use LEGO to get students interested in STEM:
- Exploring Classification – An easy science activity would be to take a pile of LEGO and have your child sort them into groups!
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Challenges – Kids get to problem solve, invent, and explore materials in a way that’s very motivating and open-ended. Pinterest is full of amazing LEGO STEAM projects.
- Modeling scientific phenomena and environments – Use LEGO to represent and visualize what your children are learning. This could substitute for making a diagram or clay model, or work as a nice supplement as a review.
- Modeling Chemistry – Chemistry can be challenging for students to understand because it requires them to visualize how tiny particles interact and combine. LEGO is a great way for them to visualize how atoms and molecules “fit together” to form various compounds and generate reactions.
- Math – LEGO can be used to teach addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and even fractions!
- Coding and Programming – If your child is interested in technology, you may find a use for LEGO in coding and programming activities.
Things to think about:
- What could you invent out of LEGO that could solve a real-world problem?
- Could you create a mosaic out of LEGO to hang up in your room?
- Could you build something out of LEGO to help you with your schoolwork & distance-learning?
Learn more:
- How fast can you get a LEGO balloon-powered car to travel?
- Here’s a fantastic short documentary showing you exactly how LEGO bricks are made.
- Watch how David Aguilar built himself a prosthetic arm out of LEGO.
- Solve a batch of LEGO challenge cards.
- How to keep kids busy and learning (100 LEGO Activities).
