TEAM MEETING�GUIDE

DEMO VERSION

BOOMTOWN BUILDSM | 3

Table of Contents

Introduction to FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. Discovery Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

BOOMTOWN BUILDSM Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

How to Use the Team Meeting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Early STEM and Playful Learning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

What Materials Do I Need? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

How do I support parents? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Prepare for the Celebration Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Session 1: Strong Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Session 2: Our Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Session 3: Crossing the River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Session 4: The Construction Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Session 5: The Construction Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Session 6: Our New Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Session 7: Our New Town Improved! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Session 8: Moving Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Session 9: Getting to Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Session 10: Celebration Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Appendix 1: Six Bricks Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Appendix 2: Supporting Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Appendix 3: Reviewing Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

BOOMTOWN BUILDSM |

6 | FIRST ® LEGO® League Jr. Discovery Edition

There are 10 sessions outlined in the BOOMTOWN BUILDSM Team Meeting Guide. In general, plan for one team meeting to last about an hour to complete each session. The final session is the celebration event, for which you may need longer than an hour.

Each session contains the following elements:

A.) A Big Question to help frame the session.

B.) Each session includes a Six Bricks activity. The recommended activity has been selected to support the main direction of the session. More information on getting started with Six Bricks can be found in Appendix 1.

C.) Task 1 is used to introduce the context of the session, focus the children, and provide example discussion questions.

D.) Task 2 includes a brief for what the children should build and test. The session should always allow for creativity, tinkering, and free-building where possible.

E.) Task 3 provides guidance for enabling children to share their models, sketches, and ideas.

F.) Illustrations are used throughout the guide to highlight key moments and concepts in the sessions.

G.) Sessions 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 provide ideas for helping the children record ideas in their Engineering Notebooks for tasks related to that session. Alternatively, the teacher could write or draw for the group on poster paper or a whiteboard.

H.) This box contains suggestions for Key Vocabulary for the adult to practice with the children.

I.) The Tips offer additional information to help each session be as successful as possible.

J.) A quick overview of the intended session outcomes are shown to guide you through the program.

How to Use the Team Meeting Guide

| FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. Discovery Edition

18

SESSION 7: Our New Town Improved

How do we improve on our buildings for the new town?

SIX BRICKS WARM UP (10 minutes)

Build a Cube 12

TASK 1 (10 minutes)

Tell the children they will build on and improve their buildings from last session. They think

about the different people in their town and what needs they might have.

You could ask the children:

• Who is in our town?

• How do we improve our buildings so everyone can use them? For example:

– making them accessible for wheelchair users or the elderly

– adding designs that appeal to different ages

– including a space where people can bring their pets

• What would they change from their buildings in the last session?

TASK 2 (25 minutes)

Have the teams build their new and improved town. Remind them to think about different

people who will want to use the buildings. They can build the same buildings they made

last session but think about what would be different now. Encourage the children to build

in pairs within their teams and to use functional pieces from the STEAM Park set to create

moving parts in their town to help or appeal to different people. 123

TASK 3 (15 minutes)

Have children assemble the town of buildings on their mat.

Have children talk about their model:

• What part of the town did you build?

• Did you build it with someone else?

• What does each building do? Who will use them?

Suggested notebook task: There is space in the Engineering

Notebook to write, draw a picture, or stick in a photo of all or part

of what they improved.

TIPS

The full activity can be found in

Appendix 1.

For example, a swing, a vehicle

moving around, gears that make

a door open.

OUTCOMES

The children will work in their

teams to build their town. They

will show awareness of other’s

ideas and that their team may

have different opinions.

12

KEY VOCABULARY

building, community, improve

TEAM MEETING

GUIDEENGINEERING

NOTEBOOK

My name is:

123

ABC

D

E

F

H

I

J

G

Six Bricks is a simple tool for engaging children in playful learning. Each activity uses six colored LEGO® DUPLO® bricks per child.

B

7BOOMTOWN BUILDSM |

Research shows that when young children are engaged in playful STEM experiences, they ignite their natural curiosity, grow their knowledge, and develop habits of learning.

When educators nurture these natural born scientists, they build a bridge between the real world, STEM skills, language and literacy.

In FIRST LEGO League Jr. Discovery Edition, children are given meaningful problems to solve. They work together to wonder and question, build and tinker, listen and share.

By the end of the program, children emerge more confident, better equipped to face future challenges, and discover the joy of learning.

It is important the children have fun. The more playful the sessions are, the more motivated they will be. We want them to build, tinker, and rebuild. They should have the time and space to question and wonder – to ask about buildings, architects, and the needs of people in their community. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers and remember, there is no such thing as failure! If something goes wrong, you learn from it and try again.

Early STEM and Playful Learning

How will we solve

it?

I’m muchbetter atthis now!

I can use what Iknow!

I will keeptrying until I

do it!I haven’t

tried it this way yet!

Its good to work

together!I know

what you mean!

Hm! I wonder what

this does?

8 | FIRST ® LEGO® League Jr. Discovery Edition

The materials needed for each of the regular sessions are listed below.

BOOMTOWN BUILDSM Engineering Notebooks Teams will receive a set of BOOMTOWN BUILDSM Engineering Notebooks. They provide a place for children to record their ideas and sketches as they progress through the season. There is one page to fill in for every two sessions. Provide one Engineering Notebook per team member. Ensure the children use their Notebooks during the celebration event when talking to the reviewers.

BOOMTOWN BUILD Discovery model and mat Each team will get one BOOMTOWN BUILD Discovery Set consisting of a LEGO DUPLO bridge (the Discovery Model), LEGO DUPLO figures, sets of Six Bricks, a town building mat, and three bridge building cards. The Discovery model is intended to help children connect to the season’s theme and provide a starting point for discussions and further building. The mat is used as space to collaborate and bring their models together.

Six Bricks Each Discovery Set includes five sets of Six Bricks. Six Bricks is one of the LEGO Foundation’s tools for introducing learning through play. Through fun and short activities with sets of LEGO DUPLO bricks in six bright colors, children can practice different skills, including language and communication, problem solving, and collaboration. Further information can be found in the Six Bricks Booklet to support the understanding and facilitation of these activities. There are enough sets to give one to each child, plus one for the teacher(s).

The Discover More set is designed for children to take home, with the accompanying letter to engage the whole family in playful, relevant activities.

The set includes two sets of Six Bricks allowing an adult and child to participate in the activities together. These activities highlight the habits of learning, key STEM concepts, and supports the playful learning that takes place in the classroom.

Further information can be found in the Six Bricks Booklet to support the understanding and facilitation of these activities.

LEGOfoundation.com/sixbricks

What Materials Do I Need?

TEAM MEETING GUIDE

ENGINEERINGNOTEBOOK

My name is:

9BOOMTOWN BUILDSM |

LEGO Education STEAM Park Each team of four children should have a LEGO Education STEAM Park set. All teams will use the STEAM Park set to explore STEM concepts and form the basis of their town.

There will also be challenges set throughout the season, as well as at the celebration event, which can be explored and solved using the set’s many colorful, easy-to-operate functions.

The STEAM Park guide can be found on the LEGO Education website, alongside other ideas and inspiration for Preschool teachers.

The Teacher Guide introduces the set, as well as learning grids and eight easy-to-implement activities.

The STEAM Park set comes in a cardboard box. It is recommended that with frequent use the STEAM Park set is more easily managed and stored in a plastic storage tub. This is, however, down to the preference of the teacher(s).

LEGOeducation.com/support

Online Resources

1. LEGO Education STEAM Park Teacher GuideThe STEAM Park guide can be found on the LEGO Education website,alongside other ideas and inspiration for Preschool teachers.The Teacher Guide provides an introduction to the set, as well as learninggrids and eight easy-to-implement activities.

LEGOeducation.com/support

2. LEGO Foundation Six Bricks BookletThe Six Bricks Booklet provides support for getting started with Six Bricksactivities, what to look for when children are engaged in the tasks, and therole of the teacher. There are a range of activity types, such as Brick Breaksand Games, that can be tailored to suit different groups, occasions, andavailable time. We have recommended an activity to fit as a warm up foreach session; however, it is easy to choose and implement different activitiesat different points in a session if desired.

LEGOfoundation.com/sixbricks

What Help Is Available?

1

Introduction | Six Bricks Booklet

Six Bricks Booklet

10 | FIRST ® LEGO® League Jr. Discovery Edition

The Discover More set has been designed specifically to help support parents and carers continue the learning at home. Each activity engages parents in a meaningful and playful experience with their child, including ideas of how to change what they’ve created and what questions to ask.

How should I communicate this to parents? We have provided a letter, which can be edited as needed and printed on school paper to hand out to parents along with the Discover More set. Each child should take home a brick set and the letter.

The teachers and support staff in schools are the best people to understand their context and how best to communicate with their parent network. There are a variety of other ways to communicate (letter, video, website, social media) that can be explored.

If the program is being run outside of a school, such as in a library, we encourage you to partner with the school to help communicate and distribute sets and letters to parents.

How will the parents know what to do? The letter gives a broad overview of the FIRST LEGO League Jr. Discovery program and the habits of learning it develops. Each activity is explained to help parents get started and talking with their child. We encourage all schools to hold a class meeting in which parents can hear more about the program, see the brick sets, and receive their Discover More sets.

A parent meeting could cover: • What the program is• What the habits of learning are• The celebration event at the end of the program• The opportunities provided by the program• The Discover More set and how to support at home

Following up on Discover More activities It is important to follow up on the activities the children do at home. Spend a few moments talking with the children about what they did, and if they had fun playing with their parents. Simply recognising that these activities have been done helps to build a bridge between home and school, and the learning that takes place in both.

If any of the other Six Bricks activities work well with the children, then they could try these out at home too. Encourage them to try these with their parents, always with the emphasis on both parent and child having fun.

How do I support parents?

11BOOMTOWN BUILDSM |

At the end of the season, all teams should participate in a Celebration Event (session 10). The children will love sharing with others what they have built and learned. It could be held in your usual session meeting space, a classroom, a library, or anywhere else that has appropriate room for the teams to spread out, build, and have fun.

PREPAREFOR THE

CELEBRATION

BEFORE THE EVENT:

• Choose a good space

• Invite parents, grandparents, carers,

and friends

• Find volunteer reviewers

• Print review sheets & certificates

• Read through the Celebration Event

session

DURING THE EVENT: • Lay out the mats so two teams can work together• Put at least one reviewer with each pair of teams• Get the kids excited for the final mission• Ensure the reviewers talk with the children• Hand out certificates at the end• Have fun and celebrate their achievements

BOOMTOWN BUILDSM | 13

SESSION 2: Our Town

What buildings do we have in your town? What is an architect?

SIX BRICKS WARM UP (10 minutes)Discover Six Bricks II. 1

2TASK 1 (10 minutes)

OExplain the FIRST LEG League Jr Discovery program to the children. Tell them they will be making LEGO DUPLO buildings for their growingtown, and at the end they will take part in a funcelebration event.

Read the comic strip with the children. 123

You could ask the children: • What buildings do we have in our town? • What other buildings would you like to have in our

town?• Who would be able to use these buildings?

TASK 2 (25 minutes)In their teams, have the children build a building that already exists in their local community. This task should be about free building, so allow them to use creativity and imagination when representing the different places they choose. Tell them that an architect is in charge of designing the building by making the first drawing of it.

TASK 3 (15 minutes)Together, assemble the buildings into a display so the children can share what they’ve made.

Have the children take turns talking about their buildings, putting words to their models: • Building name• Description (e.g., use, colors, people)

Suggested notebook task: There is a space in the Engineering Notebook to write or draw a picture of buildings in their town.

TIPS

The full activity can be found in Appendix 1.

The comic strip is found on the back of this book, and the Engineering Notebook.

OUTCOMES

They will build buildings and be able to describe them.

They should be growing in confidence to talk about what they have built with others.

123

12

KEY VOCABULARYarchitect, town, local community

TEAM MEETING GUIDE

ENGINEERINGNOTEBOOK

My name is:

Lets get ready forBoomtown build.

We need yourhelp to designa new town.

Be sure to sharewhat you learn!

BOOMTOWN BUILDSM | 23

Appendix 1: Six Bricks Activities

Base Activity1. Children separate their bricks and lay them

out in any order.

2. Then they balance all their six bricks, shortend to short end, building a tower.

3. Children try changing the hand they usewhen building.

Guiding questions• How did you balance your bricks? (in turn,

let some of the children explain what theydid)

• If you have to try a new way of balancingthe bricks, what will you do?

4. Finish the activity by letting them restacktheir six bricks.

Tricky TowerChildren learn to:Move fingers and hands with precision Persist in the face of difficultyDevelop own ways of carrying out tasks

5-10

Experiment with building towers Complete step 1 of the base activity2. Try different ways to balance the bricks to create

a tower without clicking the studs together.3. Try using left or right hand, only one or two

fingers, and a clothes peg to pick up bricks.

Guiding questions• How did you build your tower? (Let the children

explain and demonstrate with their bricks)• What makes a tower stable? How do you make

the highest or shortest towers?

5-10

Build towers in pairs1. In pairs, children combine all their bricks to build

a tower by balancing bricks.(Give different instructions for building the tower)

Guiding questions• What is different about building with 12 bricks?• What is helpful or hard about working in pairs

5-10