Objectives: Familiarize students with sturdy building using LEGO simple machine kits. Use sturdy shapes to build a structure. Build engineering and LEGO vocabulary.
Materials Needed:
LEGO Simple Machines Kits
Stack of books
Rulers
Worksheets
Procedure
1. Remind students of the pieces in their simple machine kits that they have used before and introduce any new pieces they might need for this activity including pegs, beams, axles, and bushings.
2. Talk about sturdy building - overlapping bricks, connecting pegs, using more than one peg to prevent beams from rotating, and using bushings to secure axles.
3. Talk about the engineering design process and how it is used in this activity.
4. Have students build a tower using the pieces in their LEGO Simple Machine kits that is at least 4 inches tall and can hold a stack of books.
5. If students designs do not pass the above tests, students should redesign until they have built a test that passes all requirements.
6. Allow the students to share their designs at the end of class.