In this activity students explore the concept of torque and build a "boat" with two propellers facing opposite directions. If you spread the motors apart the boat will spin faster and if you move them in it will spin slower. A great lead up activity to the Slalom Boating Activity also in this Underw...

Think about when you give students accessories and LEGO People. Kids can often get distracted with decorating over the goal of the activity. I give students people once they have passed whatever tests their creation needs to pass.

Lesson Objective: To learn to program using light sensors.
Materials Needed: NXT kits, Tape that contrast the color of the floor, computers running MINDSTORMS NXTg Software.
Procedure:
1. Have the students build their cars. Be sure that the light sensor is pointed at the ground...

Lesson Objective: To teach students about algorithms and programming.
Materials Needed: LEGO RCX kits, extra LEGO pieces, light sensor, ring for bots to fight in made of a tape circle on the floor, Computers running ROBOLAB.
Procedure:
1. Teach the students about algorithms as...

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
...

In this lesson students have to build a "spatula" (cantilevered beam) that can hold as much weight as possible. Students learn what makes strong and sturdy connections in LEGO building and can explore how cantilevered beams work.

This is part of the curriculum unit "Robotics: Assisti...

I find it helps to keep young children (early elementary) more focused on the task at hand if they only have access to the pieces they need. For example, I usually take the motors and battery packs out of the Simple Machine kits.

Objectives:
Kids will program motors to change direction 3 times using rotations, seconds, degrees, or unlimited DURATION and make a robot that does the Bunny Hop.

Use bricks, beams and other pieces to build a sturdy pencil holder. This is a good follow up to Sturdy Wall since students will need to build four connected walls.

In this activity, students will design and construct a working RCX or NXT music box in which LEGO mini-figures move while a song plays.

Students will learn to build with gears, and learn to program music.

Materials:
* RCX or NXT
* Assortment of LEG...