On 28 January, 1958 the Lego brick as we know it was patented by Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, the head of the company. Although the Lego company - whose name comes from the Danish for "play well" - had been in existence since the 1930s, it was not until the 1950s that the stud-and-tube coupling system that is still used today was developed. The new plastic brick was a hit with children and adults alike - as early as 1960, the Observer was calling it "a first-rate constructional toy" for children of all ages. In 1968 the company opened the first of its Legolands in Billund, Denmark. Guardian writer Betty Jerman visited in 1969, thoroughly enjoying herself and wondering if Britain would ever get a Legoland of its own (Legoland Windsor eventually opened in 1996, but it is unrecorded if Jerman ever visited). Lego has long been appreciated for its versatility and role in helping children develop as they play. In 1974, Barty Phillips visited the Lego company in Denmark, and reported on the research and psychology that underpinned the toy's development, and the company's understanding of the importance of play.
(Lego researchers also briefly addressed the argument of Lego for girls - an argument that still echoes today.) Given the Lego company's approach to child education, it is perhaps not surprising that in 1985 they formed a collaboration with Seymour Papert, the inventor of the Logo programming language, researching and developing software and computer education for children. Since 1958, Lego has constantly evolved and adapted to a changing world, introducing new lines and technology. Lego has been used in ways the company may never have envisaged - from the vet who adapted Lego wheels (introduced in 1962) to help overfed tortoises in 2000 to the Canadian students who sent a Lego man into space in 2012. Both of these examples serve to illustrate Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones' argument in 2012 that the bricks can be the building blocks of imagination. In January 2000, Lego was voted the toy of the century. What was your favourite Lego build? Share your memories below.
LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 Core Set This set is based upon the latest science standards and was created to enhance students' curiosity and science skills. The set is delivered in a storage bin along with sorting trays, labels, a Smarthub, a Medium Motor, Motion Sensor, a Tilt Sensor, and enough building elements for two students. The accompanying desktop and tablet supported software provides an easy-to-use programming environment and includes the WeDo 2.0 Curriculum Pack, which covers life, physical, earth, and space sciences, as well as engineering. The accompanying eLearning program helps teachers to become confident users of the WeDo 2.0 Core Set. Please check our System Requirements to ensure your device(s) are compatible with the WeDo 2.0 solution before you purchase. Every WeDo 2.0 Core Set is delivered in a sturdy, plastic storage bin that comes with a sorting tray and contains: 280 LEGO system building elements WeDo 2.0 Smarthub – The Smarthub is an electronic system based building brick that is part of the LEGO Power Functions (LPF) 2.0, a new technology platform for LEGO Education.
It has built-in Bluetooth low energy to wireless connect to the control software/App. It is powered from a battery source, 2 AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack. It has two I/O ports to connect to external motors, sensors or any new component belonging to the LPF 2.0 system. It has a built-in RGB light surface that can show up to 10 different colors that be controlled by the software/App Medium Motor – The Medium Motor can be programmed to clockwise and counter-clockwise and to move at different power levels. Axles or other LEGO® system bricks and other LEGO elements can be attached to the motor. Motion sensor – The Motion Sensor detects objects within a range of 15 centimeters depending on the design of the object. The motion sensor can also be used as a range detector and can detect if an object is close or far away (up to 15 cm). Tilt sensor – The Tilt Sensor reports the direction it is tilted. A new functionality in the WeDo 2.0 Tilt sensor is “shake” mode.
The Tilt Sensor detects changes within six different positions: Tilt This Way, Tilt That Way, Tilt Up, Tilt Down, No tilt, Any tilt (shake). Sticker sheet for labeling sorting tray compartments The WeDo 2.0 Core Set contains all of the building elements required to build the Get Started Project, along with the base and design library models featured in the WeDo 2.0 Curriculum Pack. Two students share one core set to boost collaboration skills. The LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 curriculum pack is built on Next Generation Science Standards and delivers key science content to second through fourth grade students. The curriculum facilitates and supports a clear, easy-to-follow journey through subjects, including: life-, physical-, earth- and space sciences, and engineering. Features projects totaling more than 40 hours of instructional content. The WeDo 2.0 software provides an excellent platform for science learning, offering an innovative way for students to model reality, conduct investigations, and use design skills.
Programming is an important part of 21st century learning. The WeDo 2.0 software teaches programming in an intuitive way – letting students bring their creations to life while sharpening computational thinking skills like logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and modeling simulations. The software also features a colorful drag and drop interface that is easy for students to use and understand. The WeDo 2.0 software lets you: Access the curriculum pack Access to Get Started, Guided and Open Projects Access the digital building instructions and receive programming guidance Use the integrated Documentation tool For a list of compatible devices, please see Software Requirements. The WeDo 2.0 Core Set, Software and Project gives you access to basic assessment rubrics and an integrated documentation tool where students can: - Take pictures of important steps of their prototype or their final models. - Take pictures of the team working on something important.
- Record a video explaining a problem they are facing. - Record a video explaining their investigation. - Write critical information within the Documentation tool. - Find supporting pictures on the Internet. - Take a screen capture of their program. - Write, draw, or sketch on paper and take a photo of it. We’re here to support you before, during and after purchase. Online and telephone support is available for brick replacement, software-related queries or general technical questions. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Call 866-349-LEGO (5346) or email support@legoeducation.us. WeDo 2.0 strengthens students’ understanding of the eight science and engineering practices, including asking questions and solving problems, modeling, prototyping, investigating, analyzing and interpreting data, computational thinking, creating evidence based arguments, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Develop your students’ competencies through hands-on projects covering key science topics such as physical-, life-, earth- and space sciences, engineering and technology.