Legos and Simple Machines

The third graders here at the New School have been participating in a Lego science class for the past several weeks.  This class focuses on simple machine components, as well as forces and structures.  Students are assigned to a partner and must work together to create daily structures. Past structures have included caterpillars (to demonstrate flexibility), folding chairs (flexibility), people, animals, bridges, various types of levers, and kick drums. Future lessons will entail wheels, axels, and pulleys.  In addition to building with legos, the students have learned the proper name of each lego piece and important vocabulary words that pertain to each lesson.  Past vocabulary words have included, but are not limited to: force, motion, levers, balanced forces, unbalanced forces, and pivot.