Learning Simple Machines with LEGO Education
Looking for a way to expand your students’ understanding of simple machines concepts? January Featured Teacher, Mandy Arck from George Nettles Elementary, uses the new LEGO® Education Simple Machines Set to teach her class about basic physical science concepts such as gears, wheels and axles, levers, and pulleys.
“The integration into our science curriculum and class has been a very successful learning experience,” said Arck. “I found that the LEGO Education system really addressed meeting the needs of all learners no matter how diverse. No matter academically where they were performing in other areas, they were all able to achieve and be successful using these materials.”
The series of engaging, hands-on activities focusing on simple machines concepts helped Arck develop students’ understanding of science, engineering, and mathematics concepts – all while fine-tuning their teamwork, motor, and problem-solving skills.
“The students were engaged the entire part of the lesson, really internalizing what they were learning through hands-on participation," Arck said. “They really didn’t realize at the time how much they were learning. But through review I could tell that they retained so much more than what they would have had this just been a paper and pencil lesson.”
Aligned to both NSTA and NCTM standards and featuring a series of lessons, teacher notes, student worksheets, building instructions, and classroom management tips that empower educators to achieve success immediately, the Simple Machines sets addressed the needs of all learners by focusing their attention on the task at hand and minimizing distraction.
The problem-solving aspect of the lesson allowed students to think about a real-world situation and brought what they were learning to life. Alignment to the core standards was important to Arck, who said she would be teaching simple machines anyway, but the LEGO Education sets made it easier for the students to learn – and also a lot more fun.
To learn more about Arck’s classroom use of the Simple Machines Set or to take advantage of January’s Feature of the Month offer, visit www.LEGOeducation.us/FeaturedTeacher.
