When students at two magnet schools return to their classrooms, they’ll be able to build with LEGOs – creating simple machines, things to wear, problem-solving coding and so much more.
“There is something to be said for play,” said Korissa Diaz, magnet school assistance program outreach and recruitment specialist for St. Lucie Public Schools. She’s been tasked with implementing this partnership with LEGO, which has brought more than just the tiny building bricks to magnet schools Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie (CAST) and Samuel S. Gaines Academy of Emerging Technologies.
Fort Pierce Westwood High will also benefit from the partnership, but not until next school year.
Diaz said the students will do more than sort and count blocks and build towers taller than themselves, things parents with young children are apt to imagine when hearing their kids have LEGOs at school.
The LEGO partnership fits in with the district’s desire to improve STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) learning opportunities.
“This first-ever district approach to STEAM learning is an incredible opportunity for the students of St. Lucie … LEGO Education will offer a variety of hands-on learning solutions, lessons and professional development to match the diverse [curricula] – from fine arts to emerging technologies – of each school,” said Silver McDonald, head of LEGO Education North America, in a prepared statement. “Through our partnership, LEGO Education developed custom curriculum for St. Lucie educators and administrators to enrich their students’ education through the skills our solutions help teach: collaboration, critical thinking, communication and creativity.”
With collaboration from LEGO Education’s Makerspaces, students will have a unique setting for working with the blocks. Not only will they build, but they also will discuss and expand on concepts taught in their individual classrooms. They’ll share ideas, assess their creations, make tweaks … and re-assess.
The school district received a Magnet Schools Assistance Program $12.5 million multi-year federal grant that is funding the transformation at the three schools. Diaz says the district hopes to further expand the program to its other schools over time.
Students will get experience writing code, building robots and machines, and even have access to 3D printers.
Elementary students can use different blocks while building a train track that will make the train stop, turn, sound its horn and perform other tasks – all based on scenarios presented in the Makerspace.
High schoolers at Westwood will be able to learn more complex coding and explore even more through pre-medical, pharmacy, agri-technology, veterinary and oceanography focused programs.
The LEGO initiative launched shortly before winter break, so only a fraction of the students at CAST and SGAET got to check it out. “It’s so much better when we do this together,” Diaz said, quoting one elementary student who was trouble-shooting an issue with the coding train track.
Microsoft also has partnered with the district, launching in the fifth grade. Following instructions, students build a robot, program it and test it. They make the robot dance, make music, and even navigate a maze. “It’s just incredible” to see them in action, Diaz said of the students. “It seems like they’re playing,” but they’re also deepening their understanding of their classroom lessons.
The LEGO Education solutions being used at each school include a custom Maker and STEAM curriculum along with LEGO Education’s Coding Express, WeDo 2.0 and MINDSTORMS Education EV3.
For more information about LEGO Education and Makerspaces, visit https://education.lego.com/en-us/makerspace.