• K-3

• To familiarize students with LEGO building strategies.
• To familiarize students with LEGO and engineering vocabulary.
• To introduce the Engineering Design Process to the students.

• LEGO Simple Machine kits/ homemade LEGO building kits.
• Engineer's 'Final Report' Worksheet.

• Arrange Students in Pairs
• Distribute LEGO Simple Machine kits
  

• Sturdy
• Overlapping
• Test
• Drop Test
• Flick Test

Pieces

• Plate
• Beam
• Brick 

1. Introduce the LEGO pieces students will be using in this lesson.
2. Discuss how to describe LEGO pieces (e.g. a 2 x 4 brick is a brick that is 2 studs
   across and 4 studs long)
3. Write the pieces that were introduced and tell the students that they are only
   allow to use and take out those three piece types.
4. Explain the challenge and using steps of the Engineering Design Process:
1. Create: The task for the day is to build a sturdy wall.
1. Give building tips and talk about sturdy building. For example,
   overlapping bricks and beas are stronger than non-overlapping
   bricks and beams, three plates is the same height as one brick.
   Talk about overlapping bricks at corners of buildings
2. Test: Each wall must pass two tests:
1. Flick Tests - Wall cannot fall apart or fall over when gently pushed.
2. Drop Test - Wall cannot fall apart when dropped from the knee.
3. Redesign: Have students think about why their design might have broke
   and what they can do differently to change it.
4. Share:
   
1. Have students fill out their 'Engineer's Final Report' Worksheet (some
   students may need help).
2. If there is time have students come together to share their wall
   designs and discuss what made their designs sturdy. Compare the
   students' walls to the walls in the classroom/other buildings.

• Have students build a 2-sided wall (The two walls should be connected with
  overlapping beams/bricks/plates).
• Have students build a 4-sided sturdy house.
  

• Engineer's Final Report
• Class discussion