Lego activities were rolling around in my brain while I was planning this week’s Lego Lessons. When this activity popped into my head I knew it would be a perfect fit for my “thinker” (AKA Big M). He loves to see how things work, he just has to figure out the whys of everything.
When Big M gets a new Lego set he immediately follows the instructions provided. Once he’s examined their version, he rips it apart and uses those pieces to create a new structure. After a couple redesigns all of those Lego’s go into the Lego Bin and will eventually be used to make whatever brilliant Lego structure Big M envisions.
My idea? Why not figure out how to make some home made Lego instructions?
How to make Home Made Lego Instructions
We used this traffic signal that Big M put together a week or so before. Isn’t it cool? I love what he builds.
I had him examine one of his Lego instruction books. We talked about how the instructions show the readers what they are supposed to do. Big M decided how he wanted to set up his Lego instruction booklet and we got started.
Big M arranged the pieces and I snapped the pictures.
Then it was my turn to get creative. I worked a little magic on the computer using Picasa. (I never know how much detail I should give on the computer stuff. If you want to know how I did it exactly… leave me a comment and I can give more of an explanation!)
I added stickers (to make the pictures look evenly spaced) and numbers using PicMonkey. (This was before PicMonkey and the fancy collage feature. You can easily make the entire thing using PicMonkey.)
This Lego activity ended up even better than I planned. Big M loved it so much he’s been talking about it non stop! Of course, since my kids are used to the “blogging life” they insiste d that I make their instructions printable… you know so other kids can use them.
Big M’s Traffic Signal Instructions
Little M’s Boat Instructions
More Lego Fun
Lego Game… with printable game board
Lego Activities lesson plan
Easy Lego Party Games
Love this!! This is such a brilliant idea!
Thank you!
Now this is just plain awesome. Creating procedures is a great science skills (among other things). Pinning and sharing this one. 🙂
Yeah!!! Thank you.
I am thrilled to have found you and this post!!! We are doing this activity this week – for sure! Thank you for a wonderful idea!!
Yeah! So glad you are here. Please let me know how your instructions go… maybe you can email them to me so Big M can give them a try!
I’m publishing a post tomorrow on my blog with my son’s instructions for a “standard baby gate”! We tried your instructions and they were great! So glad to form a Lego connection!
I love it. =) Here’s the link for everyone else! http://www.homegrownlearners.com/2012/02/diy-lego-instructions.html
We love legos- they are so much fun! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us on The Sunday Showcase Hope to see you next week ~Aimee
We did something similar but upside down. My son made the instructions himself (and then I tried to make it!)
Legos are so much more open ended than I ever thought before I had children.
http://mamascouts.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-your-own-lego-kit.html
I love that idea! Big M would get a kick out of watching me fumble with the Legos. (I’m not a skilled Lego builder. 😉 )
Oh my goodness, my jaw literally dropped as I read this post!
My son (10) LOVES Legos – he sounds just like Big M. In fact my son especially loves the Lego manuals; yes, he reads them for fun. However once he has made a kit, he never wants to rebuild it because he’s sure he won’t have the exact same pieces still (quite possible in our house) and I cannot convince him to improvise.
The idea of having him MAKE his own manual for a Lego creation he has built is AMAZING!!! And what planning and thought he is going to need to put into it – I really can’t wait to introduce this idea to him.
I’ll wait until he is finished his homework tonight, though. 🙂
Thank you for such an awesome comment! I can picture his concern with missing pieces. Big M doesn’t mind improvising… but I know a few kids who like things just perfect. 😉 I can’t wait to hear how it goes. (were you able to wait until after homework? I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when I have a good idea!)