LEGO®-lnspired Programs in the Library TESS PRENDERGAST
P
rograms u t i l i z i n g LEGO® bricks have been springing up
destination for a diverse range of kids
in m a n y children's libraries for the past few years. Why?
article, I provide a solid rationale for
It seems m a n y librarians have f o u n d t h e m to be an effec-
the library, as well as i d c
tive way to b l e n d hands-on play w i t h literacy.
n i n g ideas, booklists, and great
Some people believe that the type of play inspired by LEGO bricks is linked to many of the same kinds of skills needed to build literacy. Such programs can be adapted to almost any library space or schedule and are great ways to meet new families, especially those w i t h children who are reluctant readers. Additionally LEGO provides play that grows along w i t h the child, and w i t h i n a few years, LEGO enthusiasts w i l l be tweens, an age group that librarians have recognized as being particularly vulnerable to disengagement f r o m reading and libraries. Teens have roles to play i n this as well, as LEGO provides challenging options for teen builders who may also be keen to act as mentors in library LEGO programs for younger kids.
Children's librarians need ways w h e n those kids grow out o f something that appeals to t h e m t o fa regularly is ideal. However rr. busy offering a wide range of preschoolers. There is only so m a c carry out great children's p r : r r i — v to p l a n a new program is often
The popularity of the LEGO brand i n children's publishing (mainly early readers) also makes it easy to connect the playtime aspect of the programs to your book collection. Libraries can promote the value of open-ended—and often cooperative—play while encouraging spatial, sequential, and problem-solving skills.
kids, and : ffering (be library | taoedibly and plan and available ners. ed to minimal mat the chil-
Experience over the paother school-age programs. L E G O p n p p l a n n i n g and deliver m i n t r o d u c t i o n of a LEG dren c o m i n g to the library for
.earning. t ^object of s p h e r e . Many rv^e of play :f skills learning of both
The link between play and renewed interest i n the earfv practitioners and parems that LEGO inspires is linked
LEGO programs at public libraries have proven to be a great a d d i t i o n to school-age programs, m a k i n g the library a favorite
needed to build literacy ?:c how things fit together t o
Children's Librarian Tess Prendergast of Vancouver British is a revised version of a poster session that she presented
at
in June 2012. Some of the content is available on the blog LEGO in Ihe . .com), where she encourages
others to share their library LEGO success s*amm
*
mm
. Libraries
Brick by Brick
Learn l o r e Online The websites below provide more food for thought about learning with LEGO® bricks. • LEGO Literacy w w w . t h e b o o k c h o o k . c o m / 2 0 1 1 /04/lego-literacy.html
• LEGO and Literacy (2) www.thebookchook.com/2010/06/lego-and -literacy-2.html
• Using LEGO to Teach Kids Financial Literacy technorati.com/women/article/using-iegos-to -teach-kids-financial/
• Language and LEGO? Where's the Connection? literacyblog.biogspot.ca/2011 /09/language-and -lego-wheres-connection.html
• Procedural Literacy: Problem Solving with Programming, Systems, and Play www.bogost.eom/downloads/i.%20Bogost%20 Procedural%20L.iteracy.pdf
• Literacy Can activities. I n other words, as a child learns how to build a b u n c h of different things f r o m the same pile of bricks, so too can that child learn how to make a b u n c h of different words f r o m the same pile of letters! Cognitively speaking, I t h i n k these activities are similar. Since LEGO blocks clearly inspire and allow for a wide range of play scenarios, and play is l i n k e d to literacy development, i t may n o t be l o n g before dedicated research is conducted that investigates some specific links between playing w i t h LEGO and various aspects of literacy development.
Be Child's Play
parents.iego.com/en-gb/childdeveiopment/ literacy.aspx
• LEGO Block, Literacy Builders Blog literacy-builders.blogspot.ca/2011 /08/iego-block.htmi
• Why LEGO? legosandiiteracy.biogspot.ca/p/why-legos.html
• Defining Systematic Creativity leaminginstitute.lego.com/en~us/research/ systematic-creativity/
Planning a LEGO Program To begin your planning, start by talking to some of the kids i n your library and c o m m u n i t y to gauge their interest i n participating i n a group LEGO-play program. Ask parents, caregivers, and recreation program leaders what they t h i n k of the idea. Get some LEGO-related magazines to start conversations and hear what everyone has to say. Meanwhile, read some of the links provided i n the sidebar to this article a n d b u i l d a solid rationale for offering a LEGO program i n your o w n l i b r a r y that w i l l meet a c o m m u n i t y need and interest. Once y o u have the go-ahead, look for a good timeslot (I r e c o m m e n d one hour) that w i l l be easy for school-age kids to attend; late afternoons and Saturdays are good choices. Start asking a r o u n d for donations of LEGO bricks well i n advance of your planned program. Both adults and teenagers m i g h t be w i l l i n g to contribute some of their o l d blocks, so don't
W i n t e r 2012 • C h i l d r e n a n d L i b r a r i e s
be hesitant to ask. C o m m u n i t y b u l l e t i n boards and online such as Craigslist m i g h t also yield some generous results. If y o u have a Friends group or a Foundation, apply for a grant that cites the learning and social benefits of LEGO for :he years crowd. Once y o u have a large box of bricks, advertise TOUT program t h r o u g h your usual c o m m u n i t y channels, especially local schools that m i g h t be w i l l i n g to place a notice i n t h e i r newsletters.
Running a LEGO Program You may have to do a bit of legwork to get your program approved, acquire your bricks, and get your p r o m o t i o n done. However, after that, the program pretty m u c h runs itself, and y o u can incorporate as m u c h or as litde structure as you wish.
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Brick by Brick For example, y o u can set weekly themes for your LEGO programs, such as dinosaurs, rescue personnel, transportation, or space travel. You can also start w i t h a rousing picturebook, choosing one that has lots of visual appeal, colors, a n d action that w i l l inspire amazing construction creations. F e d free to sing a few silly songs and dance around for the first lew minutes so everyone feels relaxed and focussed. I have r u n LEGO programs b o t h w i t h and w i t h o: u_-t : O : J O and songs; all are equally well-received, so I e n : _s: i c i n g what y o u t h i n k best suits the needs of the i-r : i Most importantly, just open the LEGO box a n d started o n their designs. Parents and caregiver? on the floor w i t h the kids and b u i l d along n o p p o r t u n i t y to visit w i t h y o u or one another, or p
Considering Inclusion I encourage y o u to consider your LEGO lent o p p o r t u n i t y for diverse c spirit of the real meaning of i n been involved i n , there have range of cultural, linguistic, a n d have thrived, interacted, learned, joy. By all means, take steps to being well-suited to children need to offer separate programs tal differences.
LEGO-Based Book C o l l e d * You can encourage aspiring p r i n t literacy by p r o v i d i n g a i at the program. Besides spend time d u r i n g the featuring their favorite d s W i t h new titles emerging i regularly so you can add I gram's circulating o o B e d i i recommended b o o k ] • ~rt
lake Pictures I recommend program. I f j w o r k o n their reports t o 5 financial wav to see the .
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r..s.^i .-. )gs : 11 : proWBL See List of T
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t Libraries
Brick by Brick . Cool City. N e w York: H o l t 2011.32p.
Learning l o r e with LEGOÂŽ Books
Lassieur, Allison, a n d D a v e W h i t e . Mars Alien Attack!
Here's a brief list of recommended LEGO books for your program.
New
York: Scholastic, 2008.31 p. Lipkowitz, Daniel. The LEGO Book. L o n d o n : DK, 2009.199p.
Bedford, Allan. The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Francisco, Calif.: N o Starch, 2005.319p.
Guide.
. The LEGO Ideas Book: Unlock Your L o n d o n : DK, 2011.198p.
Beecroft, Simon, a n d J e r e m y Beckett. Star Wars Visual Dictionary.
San
Lego:
L o n d o n : DK, 2009.95p.
Martell, Nevin, a n d Daniel Lipkowitz. Standing Celebration
D o l a n , H a n n a h . Brickbeard's 2011.32p.
Treasure. N e w York: DK,
D o l a n , H a n n a h , Elizabeth Dowsett, a n d DK Publishing. LEGO Star Wars Oharacter
Encyclopedia.
Small: A London:
DK, 2009.96p. Sander, Sonia. Help Is on the Way! N e w York: Scholastic, 2009.31 p. . Fire Truck to the Rescue!
Dowsett, Elizabeth, LEGO Harry Potter: Building Magical World. N e w York: DK, 2011.95p.
N e w York: Scholastic,
2009.31 p.
the
Easton, Marilyn, a n d Kenny Kiernan. All Hands on
. Calling all Cars! N e w York: Scholastic, 2010.31 p. Deck!
York: Scholastic, 2011.31 p.
Kenney, Sean. Cool Cars and Trucks, N e w York: H o l t 2009.32p. . Cool Robots.
of 30 Years of the Lego Minifigure.
L o n d o n : DK,
2011.206p.
New
Imagination.
N e w York: Holt, 2010.32p.
. All Aboard! . Ready
N e w York: Scholastic, 2010.31 p.
for Takeoff! N e w York: Scholastic, 2010.31 p.
. 3 , 2 I Liftoff! N e w York: Scholastic, 2011.31 p. The Ultimate LEGO Book N e w York: DK, 1999.124p.
p r i n t t h e m to distribute next time. Because the participants cannot keep their creations, they, and their parents, often really appreciate the photos.
Cleanup! I recommend giving alerts at fifteen minutes and ten minutes before the program's end time. Five minutes before the program's end time, i t is group clean-up time. No matter how far the bricks have spread throughout the r o o m , five minutes is sufficient t i m e to get i t all back into the b i n . A couple of small dustpans are helpful, b u t a lot of little fists can get those bricks safely stored i n just a few minutes. I encourage the kids to select a book o n their way out and tell t h e m to come back next week. Offering creative outlets, opportunities for making new friends, and a source of good early reading material, library LEGO programs give kids what they want (and what developmental experts w i l l say they need): a chance to play. The literacy, language, spatial, mathematic, and other cognitive benefits of LEGO play can be explained to the parents, b u t just let the kids build! &
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