I find it helps to keep young children (early elementary) more focused on the task at hand if they only have access to the pieces they need. For example, I usually take the motors and battery packs out of the Simple Machine kits.

Objectives:
Kids will program motors to change direction 3 times using rotations, seconds, degrees, or unlimited DURATION and make a robot that does the Bunny Hop.

Use bricks, beams and other pieces to build a sturdy pencil holder. This is a good follow up to Sturdy Wall since students will need to build four connected walls.

1st Grade students attempted to make windmills using LEGO bricks. The windmills were hooked up to a teacher-programed LEGO brick that would turn on more lights - depending on how fast the windmills turned. Our wind source was the office fan.

1st Grade students attempted to make windmills using LEGO bricks. The windmills were hooked up to a teacher-programed LEGO brick that would turn on more lights - depending on how fast the windmills turned. Our wind source was the office fan.

This lesson plan and student "journal" page ask students to design and build moveable models of animal structures. A rubric is included for students to use to critique their models.

Students will program an ROV (RCX vehicle) that will travel from Earth to an assigned planet.

Lesson Objectives:
* Program a RCX ROV to travel from Earth to an assigned planet.
* Use this activity to learn about the solar system.


Materials ...

Using beams, connector pegs, and craft materials (such as foam and glue), students create a handle for a stamper. Students will need to build the handle and attach the foam shape. Students test it out by using ink and putting a stamp on paper.

In this activity students will construct a tower that is at least 4-6 inches high. The tower must withstand first the weight of a stack of books, then themselves and then you.
Concepts: 1) building
2) sturdiness

Learning Objective:
Build a robotic NXT LEGO car equipped with a light sensor and program it to drive at a speed based on the light sensor input.

Student Challenge:
Build and program a two-motor car equipped with a light sensor. The car should drive forward and will ha...