17 Learning Sparks for Kids Who Love Legos
From Enabling Parents to Become Learning Coaches:
In its pure form, learning is a spontaneous, non-linear, and organic process. It looks nothing like the curricula we design for traditional class learning environments, it happens within the context of other subjects (not isolated from them), and it happens most permanently for reasons the learner is emotionally invested in (not for a third party evaluation).
If academic subjects are turning off kids’ focus, why not present them within the context of the interests they already have? Below are 17 ways parents can spark interest for other subjects within kids who love Legos:
History
Build historical buildings and learn about the people who created and used them.
Use Lego people to represent different countries interacting with, or fighting against, one another throughout history.
Create ships and trains and carriages and other modes of transportation to discuss how technology and travel have changed throughout time.
English
Create a script for family members to act out a play using Lego characters.
Write a letter to the manufacturers of Lego suggesting a new design or theme. See Write a Letter.
After assembling a castle or house, write a short story using it as the setting.
Science
Biology
Use Lego animals and plants to discuss biology.
Chemistry
Learn how plastic is made.
Create a periodic table using Legos to teach chemistry.
Geology
Create mountains and hills using blocks to learn about topology, elevation, soil erosion, etc.
Physics
Learn about weight, lift, thrust, and drag using Lego airplanes.
Math
Introduce fractions by using the different sizes of Legos to represent parts of a whole.
Geometry
Teach geometry using the shapes and sizes of Legos.
Calculus
Explore differential calculus by plotting Lego curves on a coordinate graph created with blocks.
Art and Creativity
Create custom instructions to help a sibling or friend learn how to assemble something unique.
Build a model version of your home.
Create a Rube Goldberg machine using Legos.
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Discover more learning sparks for a wide variety of interests kids have at PassionEducation.org.
Take a couple minutes and contribute a learning spark of your own! These three near-effortless questions will facilitate your creation of one and benefit children whose parents have run out of ideas.
(Thank you, Connor Boyack, for contributing these learning sparks to PassionEducation.org.)
