I recently saw an excellent documentary on The Secret World of LEGO and although my dreams of becoming a LEGO creator were relatively crushed, I was reminded of the benefits of LEGO in education. By using LEGO, students are immediately immersed into a world of creativity, inquiry, and innovation. Either building independently or working collaboratively, students are able to use their imagination to create a whole new world and to allow their talents and skills to shine in a variety of ways. At a young age, students become their own builders and makers!

In my last teaching position, grade 5 at Shekou International School, I brought in thousands of LEGO from home and placed them in the back of the classroom. Unfortunately the students and I did not use them to their maximum capacity, however, many students would pull them out and create whenever the opportunity presented itself. More often than not this was during free-time, 20% time, indoor recess, or special projects.

Trolling through Twitter the other day, I saw a great clip on using LEGO for math instruction and immediately saw an endless number of possibilities for using LEGO in the classroom.

Not only with math, but the variety of pieces in any given set allows for creativity in science, social studies, language, art, music…in every curricular area. During 20% time, a group of students used LEGO to make a stop motion movie with their iPads. The amount of collaboration that went into researching, planning, building, creating, filming, editing, and publishing was astounding. Through the use of LEGO and technology, they were able to learn and experience valuable skills that will carry them forward for the rest of their lives.

LEGO Club, during after school activities, is consistently one of the most popular choices for students at our school. Not set up to be complicated, strenuous, or difficult for the advising teacher, students arrive and are able to build and create for 50 minutes. During the first session the teacher will review rules and responsibilities of building and playing with LEGO; the most important of these rules to use one’s imagination and to have fun. The possibility of sharing their creations with others is endless: taking pictures and blogging, making displays in classrooms and hallways, inviting parents and community members for a LEGO celebration, etc. The most important motivation for providing LEGO in education is to encourage creativity, innovation, and collaboration in all students.

“There are many solution to the same problem and you have to imagine your own solution.” ~ Jorgen Vig Knudstorp, Chief Executive Officer, LEGO Group. Understanding the LEGO Group Culture.