How To Start A Lego Club

We've done and then much with LEGOS in our homeschool.

I've taught a 10 week LEGO grade at our co-op - which was a TON of fun.

As my guy is getting older (he'due south 11 at present), it'south time to retrieve nearly more advanced LEGO building and robotics.

This year, in an endeavour to be more intentional well-nigh our time, I started a LEGO society for my son and 4 of his friends. We likewise take a teen helper who happens to love LEGOS, too.

Our goals are to nurture supportive relationships for the boys, larn about simple machines and robotics, and have FUN!

People who follow my Instagram feed take been seeing our LEGO Society pictures and ask how to start i.... so, here'south what I did and the materials we are using.

Stick effectually, considering I want to show you exactly what our LEGO Social club looks similar.

(Just if you simply can't await, download your FREE LEGO Club Resources list by clicking Here .)

Starting a LEGO Society

This part was easy! We found a few other LEGO lovers and invited them to come to our house in one case every other week for ninety minutes of LEGO learning and fun.

*I am keeping the number very small at first (five boys and ane teen helper) and then we tin form relationships and learn to work as a squad.

Our teen helper, Evan, is KEY to this grouping. He is a young man I've known for many years, and he loves LEGOS! He is also very good with younger children and has that inquisitive mind about LEGO lovers possess. Honestly, I don't know much nigh LEGO building techniques, but Evan does!

A lot of people are asking me if this is a Showtime Lego League team or a robotics gild and I am quick to say NO. I always similar to set the bar depression when I first endeavor something like this... and nosotros can always aim for bigger things later.

If I've learned anything in my years of homeschooling it is that LESS IS MORE -- Unproblematic IS BETTER.

Fun Opening Activities for a LEGO Order

We always brainstorm each club time with a fun activity. This takes approximately xv-30 minutes, depending on how much fun we're having.

Most recently nosotros did the Paper BAG CHALLENGE . I put a base plate and two large handfuls of basic LEGO bricks (with some other fun parts from my son'due south collection) into a brown paper grocery pocketbook (I fabricated one purse for each of the boys in the class). Then, I had the boys build in the bag WITHOUT looking inside of it. Information technology's a blind build, and it's a lot of fun!

To up the fun factor you can set a fourth dimension for five minutes and come across what they can build without looking.

If you have more than time, switch numberless, and do the newspaper bag challenge again.

Another fun opening activity is a SPEED BUILD . I keep a huge basket of random LEGO bricks and let the boys have three handfuls and a base plate. Then, set a timer for 10 minutes and see what they can create. Speed builds tin can be done individually or with a partner.

Afterwards the timer goes off, allow each child to speak to the club about what they take created. This is a keen manner to piece of work on presentation and organization skills!

We volition as well use the create your LEGO minifigure printable equally an opening activity for our club.

Also, never underestimate the fun children can have just building with LEGO bricks. For our side by side coming together I will just permit the boys to create something TOGETHER for the first fifteen minutes of club time.

LEGO Lodge Lesson Ideas

Considering we want to be intentional with our time as homeschoolers, it is of import that there is a "curriculum" for our gild.

I love all of the LEGO® Education products, and use those as our curriculum.

(These products are worth the toll. I consider them an investment in our homeschool.)

We worked our mode through some of the lessons in the Simple Machines set. We learned about gears and ratios and levers.

The curriculum has footstep by stride building instructions, and also extension activities, key vocabulary words, and student worksheets. It's very well washed.

I send the set and teacher's guide home with our helper, Evan, and he decides on the lesson for the following order meeting.

Learning With LEGO Education Simple Machines

We have recently started working our way through the Introduction to Simple and Powered Machines curriculum.

Hither you'll see a street sweeper the boys fabricated - learning more about gear ratios and velocity.

(By the way, the Uncle Sam minifig riding in the street sweeper is our society mascot!)

Learning With LEGO Simple & Motorized Mechanisms

* Nosotros will as well be working towards using the LEGO® Education Mindstorms ready... merely it's important to become our boys familiar with LEGO building techniques and more advanced instructions outset.

Closing LEGO Club Activities

BINGO is by far the favorite closing activity for LEGO gild.

I utilise this complimentary printable LEGO BINGO game and you lot would recall it'south Christmas when we play!

The boys dear to utilize the little animals from the LEGO® Education Story Starter set every bit their BINGO markers!

And, of class we always have a snack at the end. The parents take turns providing snack for our group.

To top information technology all off, when information technology'south a nice solar day the boys run and play in our yard when guild time is over. This gives the moms a chance to chat and the kids a chance to just be KIDS.

(I actually dearest homeschooling.)

I promise this has been helpful to y'all!

My encouragement to you is just Start THE CLUB. Don't put off doing something your children will LOVE and Acquire FROM. Starting a LEGO Club will be such fun for everyone involved!