Lego Creation Challenge #9: These are going to be tough to beat!

Just received two new creations from the 20 Piece Lego Challenge that we have going on right now in my school. The pieces were in the hands of another teacher, Mr. Hernandez and he just blew the top off bottle of creativity!




His first is a duck creation. Different from the others and another solid performance. However, he did not stop there and came up with this design:





I like this. This is good work right here! The bag is being sent out and we will see what is created next.

Have a great weekend and don't forget about the Halloween building challenge.

If you need more info about the Lego Challenges be sure to check the tabs at the top of the blog.

Lego Building Challenge Creation #8: Industrial Crane

Good work Wagner! Another teacher has joined the ranks of the Lego Challenge. A nice edition to the creative flow of our staff. The 20 pieces are in the hands of another teacher as we speak and then it returns to the students who are anxiously awaiting.

What will be built next?

Coffeechug's Lego Imagination Contest #1 - Halloween UPDATE

I just wanted to check in to see how everyone is coming along in their Lego Halloween creations?

My son and his two buddies have begun building their creation.

They came up with a very clever title, "Brick or Treat"

Here are just a few photos of their work in progress


If you want to snap a picture and send it my way to show your current work in progress feel free and I will add it to the blog.

In the meantime, keep on building and using your imagination. I plan on starting mine this weekend. However, I might be short on some pieces as my son has hoarded many of them.

Last, I am working on a possible little prize to the best design. More details to come.

Have a great Wednesday and I look forward to seeing your work on progress.

For more information about the challenge simply check out the tab at the top of the blog title, Lego Imagination Monthly Challenge.

Lego Minifig #2: Looking to trade my custom Coffeechug minifig

Alright, I am willing to trade my very own custom minifig of myself, COFFEECHUG, for another minifig rendition of COFFEECHUG!

If you have a good build of a minifig of me(I am bald and love coffee and triathlons and anything nerdy) then contact me at aarmau@gmail.com to set up a trade.

I might have to keep the coffee mug unless your minifig has some addition that is equal.

Lego Building Challenge Creation #7: My Son Aiden

So my son was complaining about being bored Sunday afternoon so after I snapped a picture of the Pac Man piece by Mr. Uhde I gave him the bag and thought it would occupy at least 10 minutes.

I told him I wanted an animal as he was going to make a pistol. Within 20 seconds he builds this turtle.




I will not lie I was quite impressed. He then took about 5 more seconds and added the turtle eating food.




He might be better than me. Not too bad for 30 seconds of work for a 7 year old. If only we did not lose our creativity the older we get!

Lego Building Challenge #6: Another Teacher Creation

This is simple, but very creative by Mr. Uhde.

We don't always have to go complex to make something cool.

Students you have your work cut out for you after the latest two teacher designs.

I am still amazed at how 20 little pieces can go so many different ways.

This is Pac Man eating up a dot.

Coffeechug's Lego Imagination Contest #1 - Halloween

The Lego Building Challenge has been an awesome success with many students and teachers begging for their turn to build something with the 20 pieces. We all must be patient as it makes the rounds to the next person in line.

Thinking about all of you who so impatiently are awaiting the bag of goodies I have decided to unfold another Lego challenge. I will be bringing in some random Lego pieces to my office, but this challenge is more for anyone who already has Legos and looking for some inspiration to be creative.

Here is the rules and topic for Challenge #1

Get your Legos out, it's time for Coffeechug's Lego Imagination Contest Challenge #1

You have a little over one month to complete this project and send me the photo of your finished creation.  Your creation needs to be just that, your OWN creation.

This must come from your own imagination. I don't want any kits or purchased type sets for this. You can use any Lego pieces that you want, but you must design it yourself. Make it as a simple and easy as you want or as hard and complex.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Remember, send your photo to me by Friday, October 26th.

I am giving a lot of time for this first challenge so word can spread.

Submit your photos of your designs to aarmau@gmail.com

Please include

• Your name
• Your grade level/age
• A title if you have one for your build

If you attend BMS or any Bettendorf elementary school and you want to bring your creation in I will display them in one of the display cases.

I want this to be EPIC. LEGO EPIC.

I will begin building myself. I will need to step up my building game.

Here we go!

Lego Building Challenge #5: An Educator Steps Onto The Scene

A change of pace. We have teachers involved in the building challenge. What do you think of the first attempt by someone over the age of 14 to take on the challenge? A nice looking airplane to start things off.

Lego Building Challenge Student #4

Here is the latest creation turned in last week by R.J.

It is a racecar and here are two views so you can check out the build. Keep them coming. I have been impressed with the imagination so far!

Lego Building Challenge Student #3

Here is the next Lego Creation from Brendan M.

The ideas keep flowing. I forgot to ask him for the name of his creation, but it appears to be a type of bird. It reminds me of a toucan or pelican(I hope I am not wrong!)

Lego Building Challenge Student #2: Duck

Here is the second creation in the BMS Lego Challenge.

This one is simply titled, "Duck", and is another impressive build from the 20 pieces available.




Great job Josh Turner.

Who will be next?

And what will they build?

Lego Building Challenge Student #1 - Duck on the Bank

How about setting the bar high with the first creation in the Lego Building Challenge that I started here at BMS? Dave Schmidt, a 7th grader took on the challenge first by being the first to sign up(you can read the challenge details here or click the tab on the menu above).

Here is his creation

Not too shabby! What I like about this the most is how he created a platform that shows the duck on land on the bank of a water source.

Student #2 has the pieces and I look forward to seeing the next creation. I will keep you posted. We have several students/teachers signed up so I will continue to update as the creations come in.

Until next post, keep it nerdy....

Lego Teacher Nametag Prototype

I decided to go all out and be super nerdy! What better way to do this than by creating my very own Lego nametag for school. Perhaps I can generate a Lego minifig trading frenzy like Legoland. Here is what I have crafted so far. I can tweak this a bit more and make it better, but this works. I just need to figure out a way to make it attach to my shirt. I need a pin type operation for the backside or some rare earth magnets. I have a bit of time left this Sunday to figure it out.

Lego Building Challenge Begins

This summer I taught Moving To Middle. It is a class to help out the upcoming 6th graders.

In my small group I gave one student each day a pack of Lego pieces to take home. Their job was to create something cool.

I have decided to keep this challenge going because it is a ton of fun.

Here are the rules

1. You can only use the pieces provided in the bag. There are 20 pieces total.




2. You do not have to use them all. Use a few or use them all.

3. You need to come up with a name for your build.

4. You have one day to complete. I need the creation and extra pieces and bag returned the next morning before/during TA so I can move it on to the next person. Even if you forget, please return the items.



You will sign up with the form posted below(or on the Lego Challenge tab above). This form will allow me to keep track of the order of who is next in line. I will contact you via your Gmail accounts. During TA you can come down and grab the bag of pieces.

I will take a picture of your creation and post them to this blog.

Be creative.

Have fun.

Sign up below.

This begins as soon as someone signs up. Let the games begin.

Here are links to the first two creations

http://educationofcoffeechug.blogspot.com/2012/08/moving-to-middle-lego-challenge-1-eye.html

http://educationofcoffeechug.blogspot.com/2012/08/lego-challenge-design-2-eye-ffel-tower.html

FLL Senior Solutions - Intro Video For My Robodogs

I created this short little intro video for our Robodogs Lego Robotics team for the Senior Solutions season. The package came yesterday so I thought it would be fun to create a short little video to get them ready. We meet as a team with parents next week to figure our our schedule and groundrules and then we begin!

First Lego League: Senior Solutions Is About To Begin!

I love Robotics.

I love Legos.

So, it is only natural that I coach First Lego League.

Today I saw some blog posts from a few teams that have received their boards.

I can only say that I am excited to see this board. From what little I have been able to see I am excited for this board and a new set of challenges.

Our team will meet up for the first time next week. This will be the first time the whole team will be together since our Lego camp this summer. We will be figuring out a practice schedule and getting underway.

I will be using my new education blog to keep people updated on our journey this year. My goal is to be more current and keep people in the loop.

Here is to a new season and another journey of learning.

Here is our wiki page - http://robodogs.wikispaces.com/