LEGO® Education
SPIKE™ Essential
- LEGO® EducationSPIKE™ Essential
- Prepare to Teach
Unboxing
Assemble your set
Open your box and follow these instructions:
- Apply the stickers to the correct corners of each sorting tray.
- Apply the labels to the box and all of the hardware components.
- Open the bags and sort the bricks into the color-coded sorting trays. Bags without numbers are stored in the bottom of the yellow box.
- Label each box and its hardware with a unique name or number.
- Insert the battery into the SPIKE Essential Hub.
- Store the replacement elements for later use.
Classroom Management
Preparation
- App: Download the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ App and units. Review the Start tutorials.
- Sets: Unpack, sort, label, and number the sets. Update the Hub firmware.
- Storage: Consider how to conveniently store the sets (e.g., cabinet or wheeled cart) and how you’ll charge the Hubs after use. Store replacement packs separately for when elements go missing.
- Tools: Gather tape, yardsticks, cardboard, scissors, and student handouts.
- Space: Clear the tables for working. Use the floor for testing and running programs.
- Lesson planning: Run through a lesson as if you were a student. Refine and prepare to teach the lesson to your students.
Best Practices
- Rules: Create classroom rules for hands-on work (e.g., only use elements from one set, use storage box lids as trays for working on/presenting/transporting models, ask peers for help first, guidelines for speaking/listening vs. working).
- Tidy-up: Reserve time for students to store or disassemble their creations.
- Lost & found: Create a “lost & found” jar for LEGO elements found on the floor. Students missing an element should look in the jar.
- Evaluation: Evaluate your lessons and reflect on the experience. Compare notes with a colleague or search social media for tips and tricks.
- Checking & sorting: Regularly check and sort the sets. Use the element overview on ''side 2'' of the top card inside the storage box as a checklist.
- Exploration: Allow time for your students to explore the tutorial activities under Start in the app.
- Grouping: Decide the best way to group your students for effective collaborative learning.
Example: See how one teacher manages small group work.
Prepare To Teach
Find classroom management courses on small group work, lessons, materials, and hands-on learning.
Note: The link above leads to a platform requiring login via LEGO ID. If you don’t have a LEGO ID, you’ll be prompted to create one.
Choose Your First Lessons
The LEGO Education SPIKE™ Essential lessons are organized into themed units that emphasize different aspects of STEAM. Some units are aimed at lower-primary students, while others are aimed at upper-primary students. Lessons progress in difficulty within each unit and build toward a culminating project. A good place to start is usually with lesson 1. Navigate to the first lesson in each unit below.
Lower Primary Lessons
Upper Primary Lessons