Building with blocks is a time honored tradition for kids. There are so many wonderful lessons that can be taught from building with blocks. Today we are thrilled to share an incredible book that is full of fun STEAM projects using LEGO bricks!

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Brick Building 101: 20 LEGO® activities to teach kids about STEAM was written by Courtney Sanchez with Jessica Wright, and illustrated by Natasha Hellegourach. This book takes block building to the next level. Using materials you probably already have around your home, this book shows kids and parents how to use LEGO bricks to practice and explore a variety of STEAM topics.

This bright and colorful book uses large photographs and simple instructions to set up fun experiments. From playing simple games to creating a zipline, there are activities for kids (and adults!) of all ages to enjoy. The layout of the book is very easy to read. The illustrated materials lists are straightforward and there are cheerful LEGO people providing encouragement along the way. For parents and teachers, each activity includes more background information on the STEAM concepts being covered. There are also “STEAM Sparks” that provide extension activities for advancing the learning.

Why we like this book

This book is such a fun and interesting resource! My daughter loved flipping through it and looking at all of the awesome experiments to choose from. The zipline has been her favorite so far. The instructions made it easy to reproduce and we had fun experimenting with it. I tied the string to the top of her play structure and she raced the zipline down the slide. She had so much fun that she insisted on trying again and again.

Since we have been having so much fun with this book, I decided to share my 5 reasons why families need it on their bookshelf!

Lots of fresh LEGO ideas

There are so many fun ways to use LEGO blocks. Part of the reason that they are still so popular is their ability to be reused in so many new and different ways. I love that the ideas in this book take LEGOs and other materials that you already have around your house and use them in new and different ways. Sure, we have been planting seeds and vegetables around our house, but I never would have thought to use LEGO bricks to create the planter! The ideas in this book will give a whole new life to those LEGO blocks sitting on the shelf!

Variety of educational concepts

There are already so many amazing things that kids can learn from playing with LEGO blocks. From developing fine motor skills to learning about colors and shapes, there are a ton of concepts that kids can learn through play. However, this book adds even more educational concepts to playtime. The activities included in the book introduce symmetry, design, gravity and force, just to name a few. Plus, the STEAM Stats section helps parents understand what kids are getting out of the activity, so they can ask questions and point out important concepts to kids while they play together.

Easy instructions and tips

When it comes to setting up activities for kids, we parents don’t want to spend an hour reading through directions and setting up materials, only to find our kids get bored within the first few seconds. (Been there, done that!). With this book, you don’t have that problem! The book is set up in a way that is fun and exciting for kids to read with their parents. The instructions are simple and straightforward for each project. The materials lists are illustrated, so kids can even do the set up! Projects that kids can set up on their own? That sounds like a win!

Also, there are several “Parent Prep” sections throughout the book that provide important tips to help your experience go more smoothly. Don’t you hate when you get halfway through a project and find out that you don’t have the pieces you need? With the helpful tips in this book, you can be saved the frustration before you even get started!

Extension Activities

Kids love to repeat things over and over. (How many of their favorite books have you read so many times that you know it by heart?) The STEAM Sparks included with each activity provide you with ways to change the project and extend the learning. These activities are great for repeating the same activity while also changing it up a little. Extension activities are also great for challenging kids after they have already mastered the activity. If you have kids of different ages, these activities allow for different skill levels to participate on their own level.

Helps you PLAY while LEARNING

If you told your child that you were going to learn about gravity today, what would their response be? What if you told them that you were going to work together to build a zipline to send their LEGO toys flying across the room? Learning through play is quickly becoming a lost art for kids, but it is something that should be encouraged and treasured! This book allows parents to create some amazing things with the LEGO toys they love, all while setting a foundation of STEAM learning that will pay off in the long run! When they learn about these topics later in life, they will definitely remember the awesome experiments they made at home.

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