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PrimaryDesign & Technology

LEGO Challenge – Character Building Lesson Plan

The children have just finished reading a great book, but what do they do next? Write a review? Discuss the story with a friend? Rob Widger has an idea for taking things a step further…

Rob Widger
by Rob Widger
DT projects KS2
DOWNLOAD A FREE RESOURCE! DT projects KS2 – How to make pop up books
PrimaryDesign & Technology

In this activity, students undertake a series of building challenges based on a fiction book. It encourages lots of discussion and will take children’s understanding of character and plot to a new level.

1. Connect

We have just finished reading our book. Did the students enjoy the story? What was their favourite part? Hear what some of the students have to say.

Now get the LEGO kits out and explain to the children that they are going to take their understanding of the book one step further.

Hand out the kits and ask students to think about the main characters from the story. Who do they think is the main character? Could it be more than one person or thing?

2. Construct

Now give the children 3 to 4 minutes to build a model showing the story’s most important characters and the main character.

Once the building time is over, ask the children to take turns telling each other about what they have built. Any models children make throughout this challenge should be kept for later stages.

Ask the students to think about all that they have heard about the main character in the story and to share a couple of their thoughts. What kind of person do they think the main character is? Good or bad? Strange or ordinary? Happy or sad? Angry? What other things can they think of?

Now ask the group to think of one good thing about the character, and to consider what might be his or her bad qualities. The children should pick a mini-figure to represent the main character and add four to six LEGO bricks to illustrate the most important thoughts they have about him or her.

For example, a LEGO telephone could be used to show that the character is a good communicator. Whatever piece of LEGO is used, it is up to the students to lend meaning to that piece. The students are given a further 3 to 4 minutes to build, and should again take turns to tell each other about what they have built once they have finished.

3. Contemplate

This activity requires students and teachers to use their imagination! Point out that many great films have sequels (Ice Age, Star Wars and Toy Story, to name but a few) and then share an additional chapter you have written for the book with the class.

Now it’s the children’s turn. In groups, can they imagine where the story might proceed were it to continue on from where it currently ends? Could they come up with a new chapter for the story themselves?

Once the new episodes have taken shape, the students build models that illustrate how the main character might use what he or she has learned from the story so far that will help them cope with what happens next. Give the children 3 to 4 minutes to build, and then ask them to take turns and tell each other about their models.

4. Continue

Students should look at the models they have built and think about everything that has been shared. Now it’s time for children to build a model that shows the most important things about the main character and the impression he or she has made on them. Does the character give children courage, inspiration or hope? Has the character taught them a new quality they would like to use in life?

For this activity, students can take elements from any of the previous models they have built. After 3-4 minutes of building, give children a final opportunity to discuss their thoughts.

RESOURCES

Below are the types and quantities of bricks you will need for this activity, but feel free to explore other options. • BuildToExpress Set • Any LEGO Education Sets that include minifigures, such as StoryStarter

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