Watching an episode of 'Lego Masters' showcases the magic of lego. Lego is not just a means of entertainment, it can also be a powerful educational experience. Lego based education systems often focus on learning through play. Parts 1 and 2 of this article will discuss how you can use lego to facilitate 5 important aspects of learning through play via lego based, affordable activities in your home.
1. Fun
People are more likely to retain information when learning is fun, entertaining or positive (Lego foundation, n.d). Lego can be used to make almost anything. This immersion is engaging for many kids. Moreover, many kids naturally use lego in creative and innovative ways which can develop their imagination. This alone has educational benifits. But lego can also be used in more structured ways.
Lego can be used as an investigation tool which can evoke kid's curiousity to extend their learning. For example, they can create lego landscapes to explore ecosystems or geography . You could challenge your child to see who can make the tallest tower. This is a great way to introduce your children to construction/building. They can build a ballon powered lego car to explore physics. Or different coloured lego blocks can be used to explore fractions. Just keep it fun and joyful as providing enjoyable educational experiences is a great way to support your children to become lifelong learners.
2. Connections
An imporant part of learning is establishing strong connections between 'new information' and what is already 'known'(Lego foundation, n.d). For example, lets say that you are making a model of a zoo with you child a few days after visiting a zoo. If your child picks blue blocks for butterflies or yellow blocks for lions(known animal colours) you could ask them 'how are the animals similar or different?' This can encourage your child to sort the animals which can develop understandings about 'classification' (new understandings).
Similarly, if you and you child choose to repeat an activity with lego which you have previously completed it is advisable to discuss what worked last time and what did not work. When relating new information with things that your children already knows start by getting them to state what they previously know. Then get them to describe what they have learnt. Then see if you can get them to describe how the new information extends their understanding. Use questioning or prompting to assist then to verbalise connections. Summarily, do not think of lego merely as a passive toy, consider how in coordination with inquiries and opening questions, it can compel curiousity, wonder and active learning.
Importantly, do not feel the need to make lego into a lesson whenever your child gets out their blocks. It can be fun just to play with your children. Besides they need a break too. But ocassonally, there is real value in actively helping your children to learn through lego.
3. Engagement
There is something truly magical about watching how immersed kids can become when creating things with lego or other manipulatives. This engagement contains behavioral, affective and cognitive aspects:
- behaviour, children can maintain focus for extended periods of time without getting distracted by apps or other distractors.
- affective, when truly engaged children enjoy what they are doing.
- cognitive, children actively seek solutions, strategies to increase the quality of the products that the produce.
Whenever possible we want to encourage this level of engagement. When working with kids to complete educational tasks with lego it is important to allow them to have agency. Allow them to make choices about how they want to complete the task(Lego foundation, n.d). Permit them to 'discover' new things through the task instead of being directed. Give them a chance to learn through trial and error. Work on the task beside them. Allow them to see how you are completing the task without directing them. Language is hugely important here. Instead of saying 'that is wrong' or 'do it this way!' Consider asking 'I wonder what would happen if we try....' or 'that is interresting, why are you doing it that way?' Allowing them to engage with the process of learning will deepen the knowledge that they retain and promote higher order thinking..
Conclusion
In conclussion, lego is a manipulative that can help kids learn. Do not think of lego as just being blocks or 'boxes', think of the world of learning that can occur if you 'think outside the box'. If you are interested in reading about aspects 4 and 5 read part two of this article.
Reference List
Lego Foundation. (n.d).The unrealized potential of learning through play at school
building confidence through development of holistic skills. Learning through play. https://education.lego.com/en-us/teacher-resources/lego-learning-system/start-here/lego-learning-system-start-here-learn-key-pedagogy/