Zip Line: Lego Figure+

Primary 7 were challenged to build a contraption that would carry a Lego figure down a zip line. Class were given a range of materials to choose from and worked in pairs to create their designs. They began by brainstorming ideas using whiteboards adjusting features and building on each other’s thoughts. Once they had created their designs they were let loose on the materials.
Tinfoil, paperclips, tape, card board, plastic cups, straws and general classroom resources were supplied. Children selected and built carrier for Lego person.
To extend and make more challenging children could be given a budget to build their carrier. Resources items could be labelled with desirables being more expensive and less desirable being cheaper. Children would have to be aware of waste and how their choice impact on environment as well as budget.
Once the learners had built and adjusted their designs, we moved outside to test. Discussions arose, and predictions made about the different designs and how effective they thought they would be. Class were particularly interested in weight and speed of each object and how fast that would make the Lego man move down the zip line. We used a stopwatch to time each groups zipline carrier and discussed design features of the fastest and slowest.