Building Creativity and Imagination With LEGO - BuildToExpress Giveaway
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 5:00AM
LEGO Education® materials have enriched our homeschool in untold ways.
From learning to write stories, to learning about simple and motorized mechanisms and simple machines, it is safe to say that anything from LEGO Education® is a tremendous learning resource!
The most recent resource we have been using, BuildToExpress, is specifically designed to stimulate your child's creative thinking and imagination.
About BuildToExpress
The BuildToExpress product we have been using contains two parts:
- BuildToExpress Core Set The core set contains 200 elements that developers have carefully selected to peak students' interest in creating metaphors and telling stories. The set also comes with a building plate and a convenient storage container.
- BuildToExpress Guide & Activity Pack The guide and activity pack is what truly makes this a unique resource. While designed for classroom use, we have been using it on an individual basis (but I bet it would be FABULOUS for a co-op class, too!). There is a teacher's guide included, as well as a DVD Rom that includes all of the printables for 30 challenge cards and a challenge card creator.
These two resources together allow my son to use these LEGO bricks to think more deeply about literature we are reading, use his creative skills and imagination, and SO MUCH MORE.
Watch this video from LEGO Education® about BuildToExpress. You can also visit this page to read all about BuildToExpress.
*Note: This is done from a classroom perspective - as I have (and will address later) emphasized, this product can easily be adapted for use in your homeschool.
Challenge Cards
The challenge cards contain different cross curricular topics to get your student thinking and creating.
Since we love literature, I chose a literature challenge card set to share with you - and this was also the first activity Grant did with BuildToExpress.
We used The Sword in The Tree (a book Grant just finished), and talked about the book and Grant began to build.
I love how this first card encouraged him to THINK about the main character and other characters in the book.
Grant built this simple scene of Lord Weldon trying to escape the dungeon in Weldon Castle.
We had a great dialogue while he was building.
*I know from also having a seventh grader that these verbal and creative skills will translate into STRONG WRITING in the years to come!
You can see the remaining challenge cards in this activity - and with each one he talked with me more and continued to build. I can see us repeating this process with future books.
Challenge cards 3 and 4 are IMAGINE and CONCLUDE.
There are many more challenge cards that come in the BuildToExpress Activity Guide, and you can even create your own challenge cards.
What We Love about BuildToExpress
I could write a very long list, but I'll just limit this to a few:
- The set comes in a compact box that is easy to store. The pieces are engaging and A LOT can built just from a free build with the 200 elements included.
- The guide and activity pack help me organize an entire LESSON surrounding the LEGO bricks. Grant doesn't even realize we are working on elements of literature, or a science concept. All he knows is LEGO!
- LEGO Education® leaves no stone unturned. They give you MORE THAN ENOUGH direction, challenge cards, and teaching ideas.
- The potential in our homeschool is something I love, but I also love the potential to use this in a co-op or LEGO club setting. It can work well with individuals or groups.
We have just scratched this surface with this resource, and I am SO excited!
Reader Comments (254)
Two out of three of my sons are new to homeschooling and this would be a great way to make school fun. One In particular is struggling with school at home and this would be perfect because he is a lover of Legos. And Monday just happen to be his birthday and we went to Lego land and we participated in the demonstration for this package and he absolutely loved it!!!
My son hates writing and loves LEGOs, so hopefully this would make writing more fun for him.
Thank you for this giveaway and sharing about such a wonderful resource. I'm just learning about Lego Education and so excited about using it with my son.
Oh how I would LOVE to win! I looked at buying this to start our year, however since we moved out of state due to a job this year I needed to wait. We have started including the legos we have and my children are enjoying that. I love your lego post as it looks like so much fun and I would totally be speaking my children's language ;) Thank you for the oppritunity given to us to win this giveaway :)
I would love to see the enhanced thinking skills and a fun way to start my boys writing.
My three daughters love their Legos and I have been hoping to get more "educational" with their Lego play. We would love to incorporate this!
LEGOS are so versital for learning. Right now, we use them for creative playa and for pattern recognition and reproduction.
My 10 yr. old son loves Lego's too!!! However, has difficulty writing. This would encourage him in so many ways. What a blessing this would be for both of us!!
My little guy is celebrating his seventh birthday today, and he loves all things LEGO!
I have 4 little boys who are obsessed with legos. We also lead a homeschool lego club at our home once a month. We would love this set to add to our building materials. Thanks!!
My three kids are Lego Strong! 8,6,5 they can't get enough!
Great way for my kiddos to expand their storytelling.
I have 3 boys that I homeschool and your minifig writing promts have been a huge help. This Lego set would be fantastic. Thank you for the chance to win.
I have 3 boys that I homeschool and your minifig writing promts have been a huge help. This Lego set would be fantastic. Thank you for the chance to win.
My son is a multi-sensory learner - I would use this set to inspire him in alll of his subjects. Reading would be at the top of the list! This is a fantastic giveaway: thanks for the chance to win!!
My son is into all things Lego and this seems to be a perfect way to harness creativity and learning together. He'd really have a blast with this set :)
Both my boys are always coming up with new ideas with Legos from a helicopter with landing pad to an entire mall with detailed stores. This set would be great to get them thinking about writing and creating.
My son LOVES Legos, but not writing. This would be awesome for us! Thanks so much!
I never knew about this! What a fantastic set. I think this would really encourage my son to talk more about the books he reads and delve deeper into the characters and his opinions.
I can see either my 10yo son or 8yo daughter using these with the challenge cards. I like the one which incorporates a book that was just read.
Thanks
KellyH
We absolutely LOVE Legos, and I'm anxious to incorporate them in our homeschool! Anytime we can have fun while learning is a win/win!
My son and daughter would use these probably EVERYDAY! They are both lego lovers. We could use them for math, and building overall creativity. Thanks for this opportunity.
My kids love being creative with LEGOS. I love the idea of the challenge cards!
My James not only loves Legos, but is a hands-on learner. He has difficulty with language skills and finds it easier to express himself if he builds first. Legos would help that.
I have 2 boys ages 6 and 9. They are all about Lego from the time they get up until they go to sleep. We try to incorporate them into our homeschooling as much as we can!