Primary School Lego Space Adventure
LEGO: The Constructive Power of Learning through Play
LEGO, the familiar little building block known to all, is more than just a toy for children. It is an incredibly powerful learning tool. As a classic open-ended material, it perfectly embodies the core values of constructivist learning theory. It is like a magical key that tightly connects knowledge and creativity.
Imagine children holding LEGO bricks in their hands. They can build whatever they want. In this process, they are not passively listening to others. Instead, they are actively experimenting. They might wonder: “Can this shape be built into what I want?” “If I change the way I build it, will it be stronger?” Then they go ahead and try. If they make a mistake, they correct it. Gradually, they refine their ideas. During the construction process, LEGO provides children with a platform for free exploration and self-directed learning. It allows them to continuously test, adjust, and improve their ideas through hands-on activities. This mode of learning is undoubtedly one of the most effective and engaging approaches to children’s education.
In this Maker Fair, the educational significance of LEGO was fully demonstrated. In the engineering design segment, students needed to employ spatial reasoning skills to carefully build stable and structurally sound models. Through repeated attempts, they understood the principles of mechanics and mastered the techniques of balance and support. This is the unique charm of LEGO in cultivating scientific thinking and engineering literacy. In terms of language learning, LEGO also played an irreplaceable role. Students were encouraged to draw or write design stories to express their creativity through words. In this process, the LEGO models became a source of inspiration, while words became an extension of their thoughts.
Design and Planning: The First Step to Successful Construction
On the first day of the Maker Fair, the students did not rush into building their models. Instead, they spent time on something very important—design and planning. It is like drawing blueprints before building a house. One needs to have a clear idea of what the house will look like to ensure that the final construction is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Centering around the exciting theme of space exploration, the children began a “brainstorming” session. Like researchers, they scoured for information to understand what space is really like and what stories previous space explorations have brought forth. They also discussed what their models should look like. For instance, should it be a spaceship, a space base, or a home for extraterrestrial beings? In this process, they had to ensure that their creations were not only scientifically sound but also connected to real space exploration, making their work more interesting and meaningful.
The process of design and planning actually helps children learn how to investigate a problem and how to analyze and think critically. As a result, when they finally start building, they already have a clear blueprint in mind. They know what to do at each step and can fin solutions more quickly when encountering difficulties. Therefore, design and planning are key to successful construction and important skills the children learned at the Maker Fair.
During the creation phase, the students not only completed their works—space stations, spacecraft, space homes, and so on—but also learned many important learning methods, such as the ability to communicate, collaborate, and present. The children in each class worked together with their teachers to design exhibition booths to showcase their unique creations. They learned from each other and voted for their favorite works.
Through this peer assessment method, students evaluated each other based on the “success criteria.” This not only taught them how to reflect on their work but also cultivated their critical thinking skills. In this way, the students not only displayed their creativity but also learned how to better cooperate and communicate with others.
At the end of the Maker Fair, we proudly presented the children with certificates of recognition for their hard work and creativity. These certificates are not only an affirmation of their creations but also a testament to their exceptional self-management skills, particularly their outstanding time management abilities. From the very beginning of the project, the children demonstrated remarkable self-discipline. They planned their time wisely, progressed step by step, without delay or giving up, and persevered to complete the entire project. This has been a practice of hard work and persistence, and the children have proven through their actions that with effort, there will always be rewards; and with persistence, goals can surely be achieved.
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Author:
Maggie Qiu (Primary Makerspace Teacher)
Erica Yang (Head of Admin)
