Lego Education - WeDo

Lego WeDo 2.0

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My partner Brónagh and I with our finished WeDo Speed car.

The duck and first lego WeDo project we made in our first session with Milo.

When working with the Lego WeDo 2.0 I Iearned a lot about how diverse and well planned out the Lego WeDo 2.0 is. It genuinely does what it says ‘WeDo’ they have covered several lesson plans which aid children as young as seven gain a deeper insight into Science and Computing. ‘It can be fruitful to think of the learner – from a very early age – as a ‘scientist’, actively searching for meaning in experience. Learning begins at the start of life, but is a lifelong process, and involves the entire individual – thinking, feeling, perceiving and behaving,’ (The Lego system for learning, 2010) I learned that Lego WeDo encourages users from children to adults such as myself to get involved in Science through exploration by asking questions such as, How can I make this car go faster or how can I turn this froglet into a frog?’ by carrying out investigations such as modifying the car by giving it bigger front wheels or a spoiler for aerodynamic purposes. Gathering and analysing the data, whether the bigger wheels at the front actually made the car go faster or was it faster with the previous design and finally presenting our findings to the class. We each learned different things from each other as we all took different approaches on how to increase the speed etc. It is a very dynamic design in which many alterations or modifications can be made to improve or increase depending on what task the user is assigned. I also learned that meticulous research and planning went into the step by step instructions and final lesson plan whereby children are given set tasks.

The initial stages of our WeDo Speed project.

The motor of our WeDo Speed Project.

The almost final stages of our WeDo Speed project.

The core set comes with a programmable SmartHub, motor, two sensors and 280 building elements, plus software which includes one Get Started Project. It can be used on both desktop and tablets, the software provides an easy-to-use, icon-based programming environment. Watch the video and get a quick look into the software! I found Milo’s first session where he introduced the Lego WeDo to us riveting. He gave us each out a plastic bag with a couple of red and yellow bricks in it and asked us to construct a duck in 30 seconds. I loved how time restricted we were as we weren’t able to over think the task we simply had to go with our first instinct. Milo then got each of us to bring our ducks to the front of the class and pointed out the fact that not one of us had the same design although we were only given a few pieces. We each took different perspectives yet we each completed the task and each created a duck. This was to prove the point that when given a task such as increasing the speed of the car we all look at it from different perspectives, we all learn differently and Lego WeDo provides children with ample opportunity to explore, investigate, gather information and analyse this information in whatever way they like or are best at but still complete the task. ‘Learners need to be able to reflect upon their own abilities, be aware of their own competences, and work out the best ways to learn new things (the skill).’ (The Lego system for learning, 2010)

The first Lego project we were asked to complete was to make a duck out of 6 pieces of Lego.

My partner Brónagh and I after completing of first motorized Lego device during the first session.

Our almost completed first Lego motorized device.

The products of our first session with Milo. The first Lego motorized device and duck we created.

The Lego motorized device in action.

The products of myself and my partner Brónagh at the end of our first Lego WeDo session.

Each project has a curriculum pack to help the teacher and students get started, its outlines how to set the context, create the model and programme it as well as extra extension tasks that can be explored by the children. You could use these materials to enhance or lead lessons in Science such as WeDo Pulling, WeDo Speed, WeDo Robust Structures, WeDo Frogs Metamorphosis, WeDo Plants and Pollintors, WeDo Prevent Flooding, WeDo Drop and Rescue and finally WeDo Sort to Recycle. The following pictures are some of the steps in the step by step guide to completing of WeDo Speed project.

The day the children visited and partook in the WeDo Speed project we asked them some questions for example:

• Was it faster before or after the modifications?
• Why do you think this is so?
• What would you do differently in future?

The almost finished  Lego WeDo Speed project.

The 16th stage of the Lego WeDo Speed project.

The 20th stage of the Lego WeDo Speed project.

The 21st stage of the Lego WeDo Speed project.

The 22nd stage of the Lego WeDo Speed project.

Our finished Lego WeDo Speed project.

I loved the fact we had a race at the end to see whose design was the fastest but also had a motion sensor in that it stopped before the wall as this proved that the children really got to understand the different commands on the devices they used to sync their car to.

The practice race of all our finished Lego WeDo Speed cars.

The actual race between all our Lego WeDo Speed cars.

The Curriculum subjects; Science, Design and Technology, Computing and Geography have elements covered within WeDo projects; WeDo Pulling, WeDo Speed, WeDo Robust Structures, WeDo Frogs Metamorphosis, WeDo Plants and Pollinators, WeDo Prevent Flooding, WeDo Drop and Rescue and finally WeDo Sort to Recycle.

Maths Curriculum:

Strand: Measure.
Strand Unit: Length.

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Strand: Measures.
Strand Unit: Time.

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Stand: Data .
Strand Unit: Representing and interpreting data.


ICT Framework (NCCA, 2007):

Develop independent and collaborative learning skills and language skills using ICT.
Demonstrate and apply functional knowledge of ICT.
Plan, design, create and present information using ICT. 
Explore and develop problem solving strategies using ICT.


Science Curriculum:

Strand:Energy and Forces.
Strand Unit: Forces.


English Curriculum:

Strand: Oral language.
Strand Unit: Developing cognitive abilities through language.

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Strand: Writing
Strand Unit: Clarifying thought through writing.

• The one in which my partner and I focused on was the: WeDo Frogs Metamorphosis, Strand: Living Things, Stand Unit: Plants and Animals which can be seen in the picture below.

Our finished froglet from the WeDo Frogs Metamorphosis project.

A video of our froglet moving.

Our WeDo Frog Metamorphosis project.

·         WeDo Plants and Pollinators, Strand: Environmental Awareness and care and Strand Unit; Caring for the Environment.

Another groups WeDo Plants and Pollinators project.