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Lego activities were rolling around in my brain while I was planning this week’s Lego Lessons. When this activity popped into my head I knew it would be a perfect fit for my “thinker” (AKA Big M). He loves to see how things work, he just has to figure out the whys of everything.
When Big M gets a new Lego set he immediately follows the instructions provided. Once he’s examined their version, he rips it apart and uses those pieces to create a new structure. After a couple redesigns all of those Lego’s go into the Lego Bin and will eventually be used to make whatever brilliant Lego structure Big M envisions.
My idea? Why not figure out how to make some Lego how-to instructions of our own?
We used this traffic signal that Big M put together a week or so before. Isn’t it cool? I love what he builds.
I had him examine one of his Lego instruction books. We talked about how the instructions show the readers what they are supposed to do. Big M decided how he wanted to set up his Lego instruction booklet and we got started.
Big M arranged the pieces and I snapped the pictures.
Then it was my turn to get creative. I worked a little magic on the computer using Picasa. (I never know how much detail I should give on the computer stuff. If you want to know how I did it exactly… leave me a comment and I can give more of an explanation!)
I added stickers (to make the pictures look evenly spaced) and numbers using Picnik.
This Lego activity ended up even better than I planned. Big M loved it so much he’s been talking about it non stop! Of course, since my kids are used to the “blogging life” they insisted that I make their instructions printable… you know so other kids can use them.
Big M’s Traffic Signal Instructions
Little M’s Boat Instructions
This post is a part of Lego Activities lesson plan.
Love this!! This is such a brilliant idea!
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Thank you!
Now this is just plain awesome. Creating procedures is a great science skills (among other things). Pinning and sharing this one.
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Yeah!!! Thank you.
I am thrilled to have found you and this post!!! We are doing this activity this week – for sure! Thank you for a wonderful idea!!
Yeah! So glad you are here. Please let me know how your instructions go… maybe you can email them to me so Big M can give them a try!
I’m publishing a post tomorrow on my blog with my son’s instructions for a “standard baby gate”! We tried your instructions and they were great! So glad to form a Lego connection!
I love it. =) Here’s the link for everyone else! http://www.homegrownlearners.com/2012/02/diy-lego-instructions.html
We love legos- they are so much fun! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us on The Sunday Showcase Hope to see you next week ~Aimee
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We did something similar but upside down. My son made the instructions himself (and then I tried to make it!)
Legos are so much more open ended than I ever thought before I had children.
http://mamascouts.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-your-own-lego-kit.html
I love that idea! Big M would get a kick out of watching me fumble with the Legos. (I’m not a skilled Lego builder.
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Oh my goodness, my jaw literally dropped as I read this post!
My son (10) LOVES Legos – he sounds just like Big M. In fact my son especially loves the Lego manuals; yes, he reads them for fun. However once he has made a kit, he never wants to rebuild it because he’s sure he won’t have the exact same pieces still (quite possible in our house) and I cannot convince him to improvise.
The idea of having him MAKE his own manual for a Lego creation he has built is AMAZING!!! And what planning and thought he is going to need to put into it – I really can’t wait to introduce this idea to him.
I’ll wait until he is finished his homework tonight, though.
Thank you for such an awesome comment! I can picture his concern with missing pieces. Big M doesn’t mind improvising… but I know a few kids who like things just perfect.
I can’t wait to hear how it goes. (were you able to wait until after homework? I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when I have a good idea!)