Summer School Lesson Plan: LEGO® Bricks and Art

Here’s an example of a lesson from our new ELA/Summer School extended learning program, which is available to order for 2022-2023.

Teacher Background:

The ART OF THE BRICK is a global touring exhibition rated by CNN as one of the world’s “Must-See Exhibitions.” These are the first art exhibitions to focus exclusively on the use of LEGO® bricks as an art medium, and artist Nathan Sawya has taken it to new heights.

This award-winning artist has multiple unique exhibitions created solely from standard LEGO® bricks. Each show has countless colorful LEGO® pieces which Sawaya has transformed into whimsical creations.

Lesson Plan:

1. Ask students if they’ve ever been to a museum and what kinds of things they saw there. Consider sharing an experience you may have had visiting a museum.
2. Have students read the article, LEGO® Bricks and Art, and find the main idea and highlight any supporting details.
3. Show students the images of LEGO® creations, from related media, that have been created for display. Have a class discussion about the time, effort, and reasons for choosing these images to recreate.
4. Next, have the students think about this question and create a list in response: What is something important to you or something you really like that you’d want to create and share with others?
5. Have students create a simple brick structure then take it apart, count the pieces, and create a graph of each type of piece using the graphic organizer Building Structure Graph.
6. Have students time themselves putting the structure back together. Let them repeat a few times to see if their score improves.
7. Optional: Ask students to create their structure so that it holds up a chosen object. Ask them to remove bricks a few at a time to see how long the structure continues to hold the object. Allow time for them to repeat the process to apply what they have observed.

Notes for Teacher:

• • Students will need access to LEGO® bricks to complete the activity with this lesson.
  • Students will be asked to graph the legos they use. Be sure that the students understand what the different LEGO® bricks shapes are.

Inquiry Question:

• • Why is innovation important to society?

Well Being:

• • What are some things that contribute to innovation?
  • How does collaboration affect innovation?
  • What kinds of things change?

Let’s Write:

• • How does art shape and change culture?

Article:

Materials Used:

• • Interlocking plastic bricks
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Graphic organizer: Building Structure Graph

Online Related Media (Explore More):

Log in to Studies Weekly Online to access these images.

• • Image: “Cello” 
• 
  • Image: “The Colosseum”
• 
  • Image: “Sydney Skyline”
• 
  • Image: “San Francisco Skyline”
• 
  • Image: “Chevy Silverado”