LEGO AND ENGINEERING
I decided to throw in a good word for our delightfully overpriced toy that keeps kids (and adults busy for hours- Lego! Aside from it's durability and ease of use, Lego presents an amazing set of mechanical parts; think gears, universal joints, cranks, half-pins and just about any piece you would need to make a replica of a machine. I am a HUGE fan of the Lego Education Kits https://education.lego.com/en-us , because I think it helps students understand the six simple machines through actually building them. students can actually build the three different classes of levers and then manipulate that knowledge further by building catapults or winches or merry go rounds that function based on the principles they have learned. Below see the Lego Foosball table some students build when we discussed wheels and axles!
Above is part of the "amazon warehouse" some students created. they were challenged to build a device that could sort three different size boxes into three different sections and retrieve them at will. Students made use of the electronic Lego motor to create three different conveyor belts as well as a pneumatic robotic arm to lift and place the boxes on and off of the belts. Much of this was original planning, and I must say, some of these students will be great entrepreneurs one day!
This is a typical (or not so typical if STEM and Lego are new to you!) Pneumatic Crane. Students enjoy the scissoring "pop-up" effect, and it is especially amazing and environmentally ideal that it uses no electricity. Make sure to check out Unit 6 of the building blocks of engineering for some great pneumatics lessons! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Student-Workbook-Unit-6-Mechanical-Engineering-II-Worksheeets-2531643. I included a lovely Lego fishing rod that we made to illustrate how pulleys work-don't you love the fish :)?
Of course there is no better way to end a unit using Lego than by making LEGO BROWNIES! see a how-to here http://www.practicallyfunctional.com/make-your-own-lego-brownies/
Share your own Lego-STEM acheivements!!!
