This LEGO Robotics program is a fantastic introduction to the world of robotics that will instantly see your children excited about STEM. Using the EV3 Mindstorms kits, participants will learn how to build and program while designing different and increasingly complex robots every week. Students will be taught the most important aspects of coding, including debugging and repair, working in precisely calculated steps, and repeated testing. Beyond the fun, there are a host of wonderful benefits that come with this program, including the development of logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, digital literacy, and the practical application of scientific methodology.
Explore It! is proud to offer high quality, engaging and educational LEGO Programs to its students. LEGO Programs can be some of the most enjoyable programs for Instructors to run – but they do take finesse to execute at a high standard. Please review the following guidelines to have the most successful LEGO Program possible!
Be interactive… the more you find yourself “crawling on the floor”participating” in this program the better — the participants will naturally respond to you when you are “with” them instead of “over” them.
Encourage students to work in groups – providing opportunities to learn about group or team work, leadership, problem solving and critical thinking in every class.
Focus on imagination. If they can imagine it, they can build it. The LEGO kits come with a lot of detailed instructions – once students have learned to work within the guides, challenge them to explore what they can create without them!
Most importantly – have fun – it’s LEGO after all!
LEGO Robotics Program Packing List
- LEGO Robotics Kits including tablets/batteries etc. as needed per the kit(s).
- Note that we have both the “older” style EV3 kits and the “newer” Inventor Mindstorms and Mini Robot kits. You will be sent one of the types and all parts necessary to build with them.
- Pieces can go missing from time to time. Please try to return all supplies at the end of the term and email Liz ASAP if you find something to be missing – so that we can look to keep the kits current and complete.
- Printed building instructions (with the EV3 kits only.
- White paper
- Pencils, markers
- Painters tape
- LEGO Gizmos & Gadgets book(s), to be used as a tool to teach critical thinking and/or to spark imagination
- For an overview of the “older” style EV3 kits, click here.
- For an overview of the “newer” Inventor Mindstorms kits, click here.
- To read about the programming functions of the Inventor kits, click here.
- For an overview of the Mini Robot kits, click here.
- To review the differences between the kits, click here.
IMPORTANT: Please return your LEGO bin at the end of the term in the way it was sent to you:
- Your LEGO is in the bin or bag it was delivered in.
- Note that Robotics supplies are broken into mini bins containing similar parts and pieces. Please work with your students to keep the supplies organized throughout the term.
- All LEGO creations are broken down with pieces separated and no other supplies stored with the LEGO pieces.
- Your other supplies are returned neatly, with markers, crayons, pencils in their own separate bags and unused paper stacked neatly. All used paper should be sent home with students or discarded.
IMPORTANT NOTES TO REVIEW:
The LEGO Robotics kits are expensive and must be used with an app for building and programming.
For the EV3 kits, you will need to download the free app onto your phone to assist students with the programming after building.
For the Inventor Mindstorms kits, we will send Amazon Fire tablets for the program, pre-set to use with the school wi-fi. The tablets are being sent to you in a child safe case. Students should never remove the tablets from the case and should use case when handling all materials. If students cannot show the materials a high level of respect, please alert us immediately and we will discuss with the school, possibly removing the student from the program.
Please divide your students into groups or teams to work on a robot. Please also be sure to keep the kits FULLY SEPARATE, and do not permit students to mix pieces from one kit to another for the future ease of instructing this program.
Finally, please remind the students to be very careful to not loose pieces. All LEGO Robotics kits are now discontinued and replacement parts will become harder and harder to find.