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LEGO and Libraries

I love LEGO.  And recently I’ve seen quite a few library initiatives involving LEGO and it got me to thinking.

LEGO is a perfect fit for all ages at the library.  It’s not just for kids anymore.

It is scaffolded so that any age can play with some form of LEGO.

For little kids there is DUPLO which can help develop motor skills, building and stacking, shapes, colours, letters & numbers, and help with ideas & creativity.kills

Creative play builds active minds. Creativity brings imagination to life and teaches children critical thinking and problem solving skills.  With regular LEGO you can build, with enough blocks,  nearly anything you imagine.
Then there are the kits with everything from houses through pirates and Star Wars.  These develop reading behaviours and following instructions successfully.  A sense of accomplishment was what I felt with my kids when we built the big kits.  And three-dimensionally we liked them better as cooperative play than flat puzzles.

I am particularly enthralled with the the LEGO robotics kits and MINDSTORMS and the ability to create cool things that align with STEM education goals and attract tweens and teens.  I’ve recently become aware of team sport with LEGO through Fayetteville Public Library where they had so many volunteers for their team that they had to create three!

Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder’s Guide

Here are some examples of projects from the Unofficial Lego Technic Builder’s Guide. I’m surprised by the complexity of the vehicles and robots that you can build with these components.
There are, of course, software and apps based on LEGO to develop even more skills.
Each of these builds the skills needed to helps boys and girls to ultimately understand whether becoming technical and entering engineering, architecture, art or design are for them or not.  It helps kids to explore their skills and interests and makes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) come to life in a fiun way.
LEGO Leagues can be set  up for international competitions:
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a site for elderly seniors in nursing facilities to maintain dexterity.
Check out the LEGO Education site (*or just surf for LEGO and education while using Google or Bing):
There are loads of tools,lesson plans and programs.
The Canadian Library Association recently partnered with LEGO. The LEGO/CLA Learn through Play contest was held in Oct/Nov. 2012!  The most nominated library in each Canadian province/territory received $500 worth of building sets, including the newly launched LEGO DUPLO Read and Build collection, a series of kits that blend early reading with construction play. In addition, participants will also have a chance to win great prizes just for voting. For more information >>
And if none of that gets you excited:
How can you dislike anything that works for any age, promotes reading and education, draws kids into the library for cooperative play and learning, and is fun?
Stephen
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Posted on: December 11, 2012, 6:27 am Category: Uncategorized

By: stephen

rev="post-15703" 13 comments

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  1. Jobeaz said
    on December 11, 2012 7:39 am

    Hi there, I run a LEGO literacy club in Queensland, Australia that uses sight words on the LEGO bricks.The program develops family literacy, digital literacy and foundation literacy and numeracy skills through play.
    This year we won the ALIA CYS Bess Thomas award for our program. I have posted some info on my blog – http://jobeaz.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/lego-literacy/

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