October 17, 2010

By: LeQuyen T. from Saint Paul, MN
Comments: 18

Posted By: LeQuyen Tran
On: 1/15/2009 8:49:05 PM

I stumbled upon this site when researching about the presidential inauguration and was quite tickled by the creativity of the project. It would be interesting to see students use this idea to make snapshots of their own life to accompany writing activities such as memoirs or social studies reports on monuments, etc. https://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/History-Made-of-Legos/QjX5zrCx8kKq5G3TLtgMBA.cspx

Posted By: Juliana James
On: 1/18/2009 11:06:33 AM

Hi LeQuyen, I checked out the website and found it to be fascinating. Kids learn by hands on activities so my students are going to create a Lego inaguruation. I have the 4th grade science/technology lego kit so we are going to "go to town" making this after we watch the inauguration....thank you for the great activity idea!

Posted By: LeQuyen Tran
On: 1/18/2009 11:45:21 AM

Hi Juliana I love your idea. I will see if I could borrow some Lego from the science room so we could do the same thing. Students can even try make a portrait of themselves. This would be a good idea for a grant! Let me know how your activity goes.

Posted By: Kathy Scoggin
On: 1/25/2009 8:30:38 PM

Hi LeQuyen, I found this an interesting idea too. I especially like your idea of using the Legos to accompany writing activities. I am working on American History with my fifth and sixth graders currently and think they'd love to have a reason to incorporate their Legos. I'm thinking for the colonial times and Revolutionary War this could really lead to a different kind of understanding as long as I set up the assignments thoughtfully so there is a way for them to show me what they know and understand by using them. I think maybe trying your idea of a personal "snapshot" with some memoir writing could be a helpful start. Thanks! (I took a peek at the site - wonder how it went on inauguration day . . .)

Posted By: Vincent Goeddeke
On: 2/19/2009 9:15:23 AM

I just looked at the website as well. What a cool idea to use the Legos to engage kids into different activities. I have a son who loves to build with Legos and as I watch him recreate different things he sees with Legos I am always impressed with the how Legos are great for creativity. I think of how Lego designers must sit around with the certain types of pieces and use them to to redesign things that they see in popular media (ex. star wars ships). Working with the constraints of the pieces really forces you to be creative in how they are configured to get them to resemble the subjects you are trying to recreate.

Posted By: Frederick Smith
On: 2/19/2009 10:16:37 PM

Hi LeQueyen, I just took a look at the website myself. That's neat. I guess these guys will start "Lego Mania" all over again. Great resourse for all kids 5-50yrs old. I will share this one with my school.

Posted By: Joanne Toft
On: 2/26/2009 9:37:35 PM

I just found this thread and love the Lego work. What a great idea to engage students in design of the world around them. I also like the writing idea. I was wondering how I could get Lego's into some of the schools of high poverty - most of those students do not have these resources at home but I think it would be perfect to get them engaged and designing. Anyone have thoughts on where I could find used Lego's or someone who would like to get rid of their children's Legos?

Posted By: LeQuyen Tran
On: 2/27/2009 9:07:44 PM

Joanne, there are many grants that you can write for to get legos for your school. Check out Ecolab and 3M grants.