Brick by Brick: Introduction to Criteria & Constraints
Updated: November 16, 2024
Type: Stage 1 Lesson
Grade Level: 4 - 12
Introduce key engineering design concepts with this fun and interactive team-building challenge! Prior to the lesson, the instructor will build a simple model using building bricks. This can represent a food truck, store, school, spaceship, or any structure. Students are then tasked to create an exact replica of this model, but the model will be hidden from view initially! As a team, students will work together to ask questions about this task and plan a strategy for reconstructing this design. Teams will then be allowed to send one member at a time to view the model. The activity will end with teams being timed while building the replica.
Related Vivify Lessons
Ignite your students' passion for STEM and engineering with our Building Bricks Challenge Mats! Designed for K-5 students, these mats offer 26 unique, hands-on design challenges that spark creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Each mat features an engaging scenario and open-ended prompt, encouraging students to think like real engineers as they build solutions using building bricks (such as LEGO® blocks).
Grades: K - 5th; Homeschool
Teaching Duration: 1 hour
Are you looking for independent STEM stations for elementary? This growing bundle of STEM task cards covers major holidays and science topics for low-prep stations that only need building bricks or other non-consumable building materials. Just print and go!
Grades: 2nd - 5th; Homeschool
Teaching Duration: N/A
Features an engaging scenario and open-ended prompt, encouraging students to think like real engineers as they build solutions using building bricks (such as LEGO® blocks).
Grades: K - 5th; Homeschool
Teaching Duration: 3 hours
Are You Struggling to Find High-Quality STEM for Your Classroom?
We can help! Move beyond repetitive building activities and elevate your STEM classroom with authentic, inquiry-based units that are standards-aligned and classroom-tested for high-impact STEM learning!
Join today to access 200+ STEM resources and a full-year scope and sequence for grades K - 8 that promotes innovation, problem-solving, and an integrated approach to engineering learning