LEGO Founder Lessons About Invention and Planning

Invent with what you have

The Inventor’s Workshop challenges teams to design a toy using a limited set of everyday supplies. Students consider different uses for the same materials, develop a design, and share it with the class. Reflection questions help them notice how the limits influenced their ideas.

Allow about 60 minutes. This lesson can be used on its own or before reading the book.

Turn an idea into a plan

The Founder’s First Steps asks students to choose a business idea and work out what it would take to try it. Teams consider materials, people, and money, then organize their thinking in a simple business plan.

Allow 45–60 minutes. The focus is on explaining a practical plan together.

What to prepare

For both lessons, have a whiteboard or chart paper and the printed student worksheets ready. The planning lesson also uses pencils.

For the invention challenge, prepare a matching bag of everyday supplies for each group. The pack suggests items such as paper cups, paperclips, string, rubber bands, index cards, and scrap paper. Choose and supervise materials appropriately for your learners. LEGO bricks are not required for this activity.

What students will practice

• Generating ideas within a set of limits
• Explaining why a design might work
• Identifying the resources an idea would need
• Listening, planning, and presenting as a team

Continue the discussion

The pack includes book discussion questions and writing prompts alongside the two lessons. Use them to help students think about a founder’s decisions and describe how they would approach a challenge of their own.