Sample Lesson

Free sample lessons

Try a BrickBundles lesson in your classroom this week

Four ready to run physics challenges, plus planning and reflection sheets, taken straight from our classroom booklet. Read them online below or download the full PDF to print.

5-16+
AGES
20-30
MINUTES PER LESSON
4
SAMPLE CHALLENGES
PDF
Sample Lessons Booklet
Printable lessons, 4 engineering plans, reflection sheet and building idea sheet.
Download the PDF
The approach
Explore, plan, then build and learn

Every activity follows the same simple structure, so students quickly know what to expect and teachers can run it with almost no prep.

1
Explore activities
A variety of unique activities in our ready to use classroom booklet.
2
Plan and design
Students plan their creations based on ability.
3
Build and learn
Groups or individuals build from their plans, applying engineering concepts.
A typical lesson
Short, structured and easy to fit in

Each team challenge runs in the same three phases. Allow a little extra time for cleanup.

Intro 5 min
Build 15 min
Test and reflect 10 min
Phase timings are a guide. The build phase for the bridge challenge runs a little longer at 20 minutes.
Sample lessons
Four team challenges to try

Tap a lesson to see the full step by step plan, the rules students build to, and how to assess.

Science: Physics20-30 min
Earthquake Proof Building
Teams build a tall structure, then see whether it survives a 10 second shake test.
View lesson plan
5 min Introduce and form teams
  • Divide students into teams or tables
  • Give each team LEGO
15 min Build phase
  • The building must be at least 50 cm
  • The structure must stand on its own
  • No holding the building during testing
Encourage students to think about
  • Base size
  • Height
  • Supports and reinforcements
10 min Test and reflect
  • Place the build on a large book
  • The teacher shakes the book for 10 seconds (the teacher should be the one to shake the book)
  • Students observe what happens
  • Students complete the reflection activity
Assessment: observe teamwork, listen to explanations, review the reflection sheet.
Science: Physics20-30 min
Load Bearing Bridge
Teams build a bridge that spans a 50 cm gap and holds weight placed at the centre.
View lesson plan
5 min Introduce the challenge
  • Tell students they will build a bridge using LEGO
  • Show the gap and explain the bridge must go across it
  • Explain the bridge will be tested with some weight (choose a weight at your discretion, for example a book)
  • Put children into groups and distribute LEGO
20 min Build phase
  • The bridge must span 50 cm between two supports or tables
  • The structure must support its own weight
  • No holding or adjusting the bridge during testing
Encourage students to think about
  • Strong shapes such as triangles or arches
  • Even weight distribution
  • Where forces push down and pull apart
10 min Testing
  • Place the bridge between two supports
  • The teacher adds weight slowly at the centre, for example 3 small books
  • Students observe what happens
  • Stop testing after a specified amount of weight is added
Assessment: observe teamwork, listen to explanations, review the reflection sheet.
Science: Physics20-30 min
Skyscraper Wind Test
Teams build a tall tower that has to stand up to wind from a fan.
View lesson plan
5 min Introduce the challenge
  • Tell students they will build a LEGO skyscraper
  • Explain that skyscrapers must resist wind and that theirs will be tested using wind
  • Put students into teams and distribute LEGO
15 min Build phase
  • Must stand on its own
  • At least 40 cm tall
  • Height greater than width
  • No holding or adjusting during testing
Encourage students to think about
  • Wide bases
  • Even weight distribution
  • How shape affects stability
10 min Wind testing and reflection
  • Place each skyscraper on a flat surface
  • Apply wind for the same time to each group
  • Students observe what happens
  • Stop testing if the structure collapses
Ways to make wind
  • Desk fan: fixed distance, one speed, set time
  • Handheld fan or cardboard: fan steadily for a set time and keep the distance consistent
Assessment: observe teamwork and cooperation, listen for science language, note understanding of balance, forces and stability.
Science: Physics20-30 min
Shock Absorber Drop Test
Teams build a LEGO device that protects a small object when it is dropped.
View lesson plan
5 min Introduce the challenge
  • Tell students they will build a LEGO device that can protect a small object from a drop
  • Explain the object must stay safe when dropped from a short height
  • Show a simple example using soft LEGO supports or cushioning bricks
  • Put students into teams and distribute LEGO
15 min Build time
  • The shock absorber must hold the object securely
  • The object should not fall out or get damaged during testing
  • No holding or adjusting the device during testing
Encourage students to think about
  • Using flexible or reinforced supports
  • Spreading the impact over a wider area
  • How weight and placement affect stability
  • Preventing tipping or falling
10 min Test and talk
  • Place the protected object inside the LEGO shock absorber
  • Drop the device from a set height (teacher decides)
  • Students observe how the object behaves and whether it stays safe
  • Stop testing if the object is damaged or the structure falls apart
Assessment: observe teamwork and cooperation, listen for terms like force, balance, load and stability, review the reflection sheet.
Also in the booklet
Planning and reflection sheets, ready to print

These sheets are completely optional and every build works without them. They are a great way to bring STEM structure and critical thinking into an activity, especially for senior classes.

4 engineering plans

Four levels of planning sheet, from a simple name and drawing up to labelling key parts, describing the purpose of the build and reflecting on what to change next time.

Reflection sheet

Students record their goal, how their design worked, what worked best and what problems they met. Ideal for group challenges.

Building idea sheet

Quick open ended prompts for individual builds, perfect when you want a calm, creative activity with no setup.

Build a LEGO spaceship
Create a LEGO bracelet
Make a miniature model of your house
Make a miniature model of your pet
Running it in class
Two easy ways to set up an activity

Use building ideas for individual work, or the team challenges above for group work.

Individual activity

  1. Choose one of the engineering plans to print for each student, or have students copy the plan headers into their copybooks.
  2. Choose a building idea for the class, for example build a spaceship.
  3. Have students fill out their engineering plans. Plans 3 and 4 have two parts: a pre-build plan completed before building, and a reflection completed once building is finished.
Example lesson: print Engineering Plan 3 for each student. Set a timer: 5 minutes to plan, 10 minutes to build and 5 minutes to reflect. Allow extra time for cleanup.

Group activity

  1. Choose one of the group challenges and divide students into groups.
  2. Print the reflection sheet and give one to each student, or have them copy it into their copybooks.
  3. Students can begin building immediately. Once the build is complete and tested, if required, they fill in the reflection sheet.

Want the full programme for your school?

These samples are just a taste. Our kits come with the complete lesson plan programme, free large base plates and free shipping. Get a quote for your class size.

Terms of use: you are welcome to use these printables for personal or classroom use and to share them with teachers and colleagues within your school system. Please do not sell this resource, use it commercially, or upload it to file sharing platforms or social media groups. Teachers can always download the latest version from this page.