Lego Education: Simple Machines

Elementary and Middle School students have started an exciting new unit focused on STEM. State leaders increasingly view science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement as a critical component of success in college, career and life. STEM education for all students is linked to our nation's future prosperity, in the hope to prepare students with the basic building blocks they need to be successful in postsecondary and workforce pathways.

During this Unit, students will be working with  Lego Education, K'nex, and Robotics. 

Lesson one focused in on using lego education and the simple Machines set. This activity pack enables students to work as young scientists and engineers. It helps students investigate and understand the operation of simple and compound machines found in everyday life.

The lego materials promote an enjoyable but challenging classroom environment in which students can develop skills such as creative problem solving, communication of ideas, and teamwork. So while kids think they get to come to class to just play with legos... They are actually using the initial use of scientific method through observation, reasoning, prediction  and critical thinking. 

Last week students focused in on Gear Principle and models. Students identified  gears, built models that showed increase and decrease of rotation, arranged gears so they turn the same direction, in opposite directions and at 90s degrees to each other. Students predicted outcomes, drew geometric shapes, and counted teeth on gears.

The week's challenge needed students to  identify a problem, build a model, test and evaluate their outcome. Students were challenged to design a 3-dimensional popcorn cart, that had a rotating sign to advertise their popcorn sale. Students who successfully completed the challenge created carts with rotating gears to power their signs. 

Great job kids!