Ideas for Simple LEGO Buildings

Building Educational Models

• In the classroom, introduce LEGOs as an alternative to other model building materials. Have advanced students make models of frontier houses with the blocks as they are learning about the pioneers. When students begin to learn about scale drawings, ask them to make a scale model of their school, house, buildings in the local skyline or a prominent building with historical significance. Ask them to also create their own scale for this model.

Teacher Led Constructions

• When working with little ones, you want to help them develop their motor skills, so lead a LEGO building project in front of the classroom. Start creating a piece with the LEGOs and tell the students that it is a building of some sort and nothing more. See if they can guess which particular building you are making. Sit down with groups of children and demonstrate how to build a house or a skyscraper, and then let them do it by themselves.

Contests

• Hold a LEGO building contest in your classroom or ask the administration or other teachers if the entire school can get involved. You might want to make a theme for the contest, such as buildings in town or the students' dream homes, or just allow the students to be as creative as they want. Award a small prize, such as a ribbon or a gift certificate to a local store, to the winner.

Home Decor

• Work with your class or with your child at home to make a simple, practical item out of LEGOs. During the Christmas season, have children make small houses out of LEGOs for a little Christmas village. Adding small trees and figurines to the village will give it a festive flair. Small children will enjoy making little miniatures of their home or school to display in their bedrooms or on a windowsill in their house.