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.
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.
In LEGO Engineering, students will get the opportunity to participate in fun STEM-based engineering builds and activities.
Though there is some overlap with last semester’s LEGO Engineering class, there will be many new activities, too!
Students will be able to create and test their own zip lines, play LEGO bowling and ring toss, make a mini car maze, build a LEGO brick birthday cake, construct LEGO/straw designs, perform an “earthquake test”, play with LEGO dominoes, and more!
For many of the weeks, students will either get to watch a brief video about the day’s engineering theme, or Mrs. Czerwien will read an engineering children’s picture book to introduce the theme for the day!
By the semester’s end, students will be able to take home a few LEGO Dominoes, a brick separator with several “practice” LEGO plates and tiles, a minifigure, LEGO brick birthday cake, and a mini pull-back car.
Monday - Classroom - 224: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday - Classroom - 224: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesday - Classroom - 224: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday - Classroom - 224: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Description:
The name says it all! In this LEGO-themed camp for 6-9 year olds, children will be able to do a variety of engineering builds and activities, PLUS crafts each day—all with LEGO fun in mind.
For a portion of each day, we will spend time outside doing activities and challenges like “Outdoor LEGO Dominoes” and “Don’t Drop the Minifig Off the Class Parachute” Challenge, etc!
After a wash-up and snack, Mrs. Czerwien will then read a fun engineering picture book and provide the students with a thematic and step-by-step simple LEGO build that the students can take home each day (LEGO bunny, dog, rocket, and several 8-piece “magnificent” builds). Mrs. Czerwien will also provide the students with other thematic LEGO building prompts and challenges throughout each day. Each camp day will also include crafts (some edible!). We’ll make Marshmallow LEGO Brick Crackers, paint Minifig faces on jars and ping pong balls, decorate soap bottles, and more!
We will also look at Bible verses that deal with the camp's theme of endurance.
*Mrs. Czerwien will provide snacks each day, though feel free to send your child with preferred snacks, too. There will be a brief YouTube video shown each day. Firmly Planted has an account with no commercials.