LEGO bricks are still one of the best learning tools and toys for kids to practice building and learn difficult concepts in a fun, hands-on way. This class will be a mixture of STEM challenges, just for fun LEGO games and silly puzzles. As we learn and play with LEGOS, our focus will be on building teamwork, planning and creativity skills. The STEM projects feature ingenious designs and simple scientific principles that real engineers use every day. We will use science and engineering to transform our bin of LEGO® bricks into amazing, movable toys, machines and gadgets and complete physics and engineering challenges, kinetic energy challenges, etc. Each week the student will be sent home with the concept we learned and the challenge or game we did to learn that concept so they can replicate the challenge at home.
In LEGO - Airplanes! (designed for 5-8 year olds), the students will have the opportunity to build LEGO creations while incorporating the day’s airplane theme. There will be 2 parts to each class period: 1. Brief YouTube video on the week’s airplane theme 2. LEGO Building Prompt (*Though Mrs. Czerwien provides a “Building Prompt” each week, she always allows for a great amount of creative freedom each class period!) In the first half of the semester, students will learn neat basics about airplanes, such as what makes them fly, how they are built in factories, and the Wright brothers’ determination. In the second half, students will learn about military jets such as C-17 airdrops, HUD devices, and vapor cones. For this course, each student will receive a personal LEGO set of either: LEGO Creator 3 in 1 - Set 31124 (which includes a model jet, among 2 other builds) OR LEGO Creator 3 in 1 - Set 31134 (which shows how to use wedges to design airplanes). A set for each student is included in the class supply fee. The students will leave their LEGO set on campus each week and will get to take it home at the end of the semester.
Each week in LEGO - Monster Trucks! (designed for 8-12 year olds), students will learn a STEM-based monster truck fact, watch a brief video, and then be given a thematic build idea. Creative freedom will be encouraged and definitely allowed!
All students will get their own monster truck LEGO set (like set #42150 or #42149, but based on availability) to use during the semester and then take home on the last day of class. The set will be paid for via the class supply fee.
This vehicle-themed LEGO & Engineering Class includes a mix of LEGO builds and engineering fun! Though this is *not* solely a LEGO class, students will get to make and bring home builds such as: a variety of LEGO scale cars, a small LEGO vehicle set (like a go-kart size), a miniature monster truck, small airplanes, and a balloon-powered car.
Aside from LEGO builds, we will also dive into other engineering projects about vehicles. Students will get the opportunity to experiment with basic bridges, test balloon and magnet cars, design a monster truck rally, work on painting projects, analyze paper airplane weight, enjoy a military jet “catapult system” with resistance bands, make a simple rocket, shoot “missiles” at LEGO builds, and more.
Each class will start with a “tidbit of the day” that either covers a brief engineering tip that Mrs. Czerwien learned from interviewing two engineers or a fun engineering fact.
Different class sections will also include LEGO building time, short YouTube videos about the day’s theme, engineering activities, and some outdoor play.
Firmly Planted has a YouTube Pro account; so there will not be commercials in the videos.
Designed for 8-11-year-olds, students can creatively build LEGO Creations while incorporating the day’s theme. For this course, each student will receive a personal copy of the book LEGO 5 Minute Builds (included in the supply fee). Each class will include an activity from LEGO Builds, a presentation of a new daily theme, and a task that relates to it.
LEGO® & DUPLO® Builds is designed for 5-7 year olds.
During each class period, children will have the opportunity to hear a true dog story and will then be given a building task. Using DUPLO and/or LEGO bricks, children will be encouraged to creatively build something from each story’s theme. Mrs. Czerwien will allow for much creative freedom!
Requirements:
Assistants:
If no other classes are available, my two children (ages 9 & 10) can be my helpers.
LEGO® Builds—Military Jets is designed for 8-12 year olds. The students will have the opportunity to build LEGO creations while incorporating the day’s military jet theme.
There will be two parts to each class period.
1) A brief YouTube video on the week’s theme to help the students learn more about the week’s STEM-based concept.
2) A LEGO Brick “Build Task” where the students get the chance to use their creativity to build with LEGO Bricks.
Mrs. Czerwien will allow for a great amount of creative flexibility during each class period!
For this course, each student will receive their personal LEGO set, LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Supersonic Jet (31126). The set will be paid for via the class supply fee. The students will get to take their set home at the end of the semester.
Yes, the theme of this LEGO class involves all-things CARS! Each week will include two main parts: 1) Brief YouTube video that shows a neat fact about cars; 2) LEGO-Building Challenge that is car-themed!
Some of the activities include: the “slowest car” design, zipline fun, a “crash landing” challenge, building a LEGO bridge, making ramps, building several types of vehicles, including a car for the “color challenge.”
The class is not designed to be competitive, and students can choose to build in groups or individually. Creative freedom will definitely be allowed!
By the end of the semester, students will get to take home a (basic) LEGO car set, a mini LEGO ATV and monster truck, several micro-scale vehicles, a small fabric parachute, and a mini plastic car.
In LEGO City & Scales, students will get the chance to learn about the small-scale LEGO “worlds” of micro and mini builds. Students will get the opportunity to see different scale examples of cars, buildings, roads, waterways, etc.
Though there will be some overlap from last semester’s micro city class, there will be many new examples and take-home builds, like a micro firetruck, airplane, crane, B-2 Spirit military jet, mini car examples (and thanks to my son—even cyber trucks!), and more.
By semester’s end, students will have the opportunity to make and take home the examples mentioned above, plus their own designed micro city, and a module of a mini city. With the module, students will learn how to make an outdoor table scene, a variety of mini "people" using studs, and have the chance to design the rest of their own creative mini scene.
At the start of each class period in LEGO Dogs, students will have the opportunity to hear a true dog story. Students will then be given a related building prompt. Using LEGO bricks, children will be encouraged to creatively build based off each story’s theme.
Much creative freedom will be allowed!
At the end of the semester, students will get to take home a “minifig-scale” dog.