How General Heiser Boys and Girls Club uses Lego to teach STEM in Dumfries, Virginia

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Children at General Heiser Boys and Girls Club work as young scientists, engineers, and designers

Science is our natural world. Technology means computers and smartphones, but it goes back to television, radio, microscopes, telegraph, telescopes, the compass, and even the first wheel. Engineering is designing and building, roads, and bridges, but it also tackles today’s challenges of transportation, global warming and environment-friendly machines, appliances and systems.

We encounter mathematics at the grocery store, the bank, on tax forms, in dealing with investments and the family budget. Every other STEM field depends on mathematics. STEM is important because it pervades every aspect of our lives.

Since the beginning of the school year, the General Heiser Boys and Girls Club has been working to incorporate a Lego Simple Machines Program into the weekly program schedule. With the help of three community volunteers, we were able to get this program going in January of 2015.

The Club was able to purchase 12 Simple Machine Kits and two curriculum guides through a Grant they received from the CarMax Foundation in February of 2014. The kits were used in 2014 on Saturdays to give the members a taste of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

With the more structured program that is happening on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the members can work as young scientists, engineers, and designers. The Principle Model that is being used allows children to experience the structural principles normally hidden away inside everyday machines and structures.

The members are spending eight weeks learning about eight simple machines: a lever, a wheel and axle, a pulley, an inclined plane, a wedge, gear, and a cam. They will then spend four weeks on building activities and four weeks on problem-solving activities.

Some of the members are involved in other activities at the club that sometimes conflict with the Lego Simple Machine Program time, and they choose to come to the Lego program and miss the other activity for the evening.

“It is my favorite thing at the club,”
-Jennie

“I like the Lego Program because we get to learn different things and build things with our hands.”
-Brandon

“It is fun- It’s just like mechanical engineering- We are in small groups of about seven kids – They’re easy to work with.”
-Zavian

This winter/spring program has focused on 3rd through 5th grade members. The goal is to continue to expand this program, opening it up to middle school members. Then in the near future find a sponsor and volunteers to have a Robotics program.

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