FIRST® LEGO® League Explore Digital Resources
Welcome to the digital resources for the DCU - Teacher Guide for Ireland. Here you will find all of the digital resources mentioned in your guide for you to use within your classroom. Links to downloadable/printable resources are also within each lesson below
MASTERPIECE 2023-24
- Lesson 1
- Lesson 2
- Lesson 3
- Lesson 4
- Lesson 5
- Lesson 6
- Lesson 7
- Lesson 8
- Lesson 9
- Lesson 10
- Lesson 11
- Lesson 12
- Section A
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan
Lesson 1: We are all Unique: I am a MASTERPIECE!
Purpose: Learners will share and discuss their passions, hobbies and interests.
Introduction: Cooperative Games
The teacher scaffolds the learners as they engage in cooperative games which have a focus on similarities, differences, and communication skills.
Development: Introduction to MASTERPIECE Programme
Teachers should explain to learners that they are going to be working on a project over the next few weeks that focuses upon sharing their passions, hobbies and interests in creative and captivating ways using LEGO.
Closure: Visualisation
The teacher invites the learners to become comfortable in their chair and reads the visualisation out loud. Relaxing music may also be played in the background during this closing activity.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lesson 2: Developing my Passions, Hobbies and Interests
Purpose: Learners will share and discuss their passions, hobbies and interests while recognising and appreciating that each person may have different interests.
Introduction: Our Passions, Hobbies and Interests
The teacher will generate a discussion based on the work of the previous lesson and ask some guiding questions
- Do we all have the same passions, hobbies and interests?
- Why do people have different hobbies or interests?
- What would it be like if we all had the same hobbies or interests?
- How do we treat people who have different hobbies or interests to us?
Development: Our Passions, Hobbies and Interests
The teacher will generate a discussion on what our hobbies and interests look like in action and what we do to develop and cultivate them.
Closure: Visualising the Passions, Hobbies and Interests in our Class
Create an overall summary of the passions, hobbies and interests in the class.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan
Lesson 3: Performing and Presenting in the Past - The Colosseum
Purpose: Learners will explore how the Romans used technology to enhance performances and presentations in the past, captivating audiences in the Colosseum.
Introduction: Generating Ideas and Enquiry Questions on the Colosseum
The teacher provides the learners with three images of the Colosseum - one showing the Colosseum from the outside and the other images providing an aerial overview of the Colosseum.
Development: Scenario Activity: Learners as Architects in Ancient Rome
The teacher informs learners that the Colosseum is one of the greatest feats of Roman architecture ever built and that it is the largest Roman amphitheatre in the world.
Closure: Discussion
The learners are asked to consider and discuss the question of: How effective was the architecture and technology used in the construction of the Colosseum to stage gladiatorial contests and public spectacles to approximately 50,000 spectators?
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Worksheet: Ancient Roman architects: considerations and possible solutions
Video: How water might have been brought into the Colosseum
Video: How the Colosseum arena floor might have been flooded
Video: How the Velarium worked
Video: What the Colosseum looked like in Roman times
Video: The Colosseum reconstructed
Weblink: Interactive 3D model of the Colosseum
Weblink: The architecture and technology of the Colosseum
Weblink: Underneath the Colosseum arena
Weblink: How Ancient Romans lifted animals into the Colosseum
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan
Lesson 4: Experts Behind the Scenes
Purpose: Learners will explore different jobs in the arts which allow for sharing in creative and captivating ways.
Introduction: Experts Behind the Scenes
Teacher introduces the lesson by referring to the previous lesson. Teacher asks the class to consider if we have a type of place that is similar to the Colosseum for sharing in our town or area? Following a brief discussion and listing of places where people share their passions in our local area (e.g. local community hall, performance stage in school, sports grounds), the teacher can explain to the class that one way people can share their passions, hobbies and interests is on a stage.
Development: Investigating the Jobs of Experts Behind the Scenes
The class will read the Explore Story, introducing Izzy who has a passion for skateboarding and who is looking to share her interest in skateboarding in a captivating way. Izzy meets four experts to learn from them and their roles and the equipment and technology they use to enhance performances and presentations.
Closure: Document
Each team documents and reflects upon the stage they built - adding photos, videos, notes to their digital portfolios. Consider how they built it, how it works, how they might change or adapt or improve it.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Investigating Jobs:
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lesson 5: Sound all Around
Purpose: Learners will explore how sound makes an impact on an audience.
Introduction: Introduction to Sounds
Remind learners about how in the last lesson we learnt a little bit about the work of four experts who work behind the scenes. Today’s lesson is focused on one of these experts. Can they guess which based upon our first activity?
Development: Build: Add music concert pieces to the main stage
Ask the class if they can remember what they built with LEGO in our last lesson (a stage). Explain that we are going to build some new parts of the stage so that it has the technology needed by the Sound Engineer (e.g. speakers).
Closure: Document/Share/Tidy up
Each team documents and reflects upon the MASTERPIECE stage they built - adding photos, videos, notes to their digital portfolios. Consider how they built it, how it works, how they might change or adapt or improve it.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Storm Movement from Symphony No. 6 by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Music composition tools: Chrome Music Lab
Online Recording/Editing Tools: Vocaroo (very easy); Sodaphonic(easy); Audacity(more advanced)
Video A: The Magic Of Making Sound
Video B: How the Sounds in ‘Transformers’ Movies are made:
Video C: How Horse Sounds are Made
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lesson 6: Movement on Stage
Purpose: Learners will explore how movement can be used in performance spaces like stages to make an impact on an audience.
Introduction:
In this lesson, learners will build on what they learned in lesson 3 the Colosseum in Rome by exploring different kinds of stages around the world that are used to showcase events (e.g. theatre; concerts; musicals; sports etc.).
Development: Builds
Closing Activity: Document/Share/Tidy up
Each team documents and reflects upon the robots they built - adding photos, videos, notes to their digital portfolios. Consider how they built it, how it works, how they might change or adapt or improve it.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Virtual Tour of Famous World Stages
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lesson 7: Museum Exhibition
Purpose: Learners will explore how museums use digitally enhanced displays to make exhibits more interactive.
Introduction: Introduction to museums and interactive displays
Introduce the learners to museums that use interactive displays to bring their exhibits to life and remind them about the experts that work there.
Development: Builds
Closure: Document/Share/Tidy up
Each team documents and reflects upon their builds - adding to their digital portfolios etc.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
EPIC Irish Emigration Museum Promotion video
Robotic Dinosaurs go Wild Interactive Exhibition video
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan
Lesson 8: Visual Effects
Purpose: Learners will explore how visual effects like Green Screening can be used to share ideas in creative and captivating ways.
Introduction: Visual Effects
Begin the lesson by reminding the class that the last expert behind the scenes that we must meet is the Visual Effects Director.
Development: LEGO Vehicle
Closure: Document/Share/Tidy up
Each team documents and reflects upon their builds - adding to their digital portfolios etc.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Copyright free image search engine
Behind the scenes at WICKED - The Musical
What 8 Disney Live-Action Remakes Looked Like Behind the Scenes VIDEO
All Hollywood VFX Removed! What Movies Really Look Like VIDEO
Introduction to Greenscreen videos
Green Screen tools:
iPad only:iMovie app + How to Create Green Screen Videos on Your iPad using iMovie
DoInk Greenscreen app + Easy-to-Use Green Screen by DoInk App Enables Creation of Green Screen Effects on iPhone and iPad VIDEO
Windows, Chromebook, Mac, iPad, Android:
WeVideo + How to Create Green Screen Videos on Chromebooks, Windows, and Mac VIDEO
Canva + How to Make a Green Screen Video in Canva VIDEO
Chromavid + Chromavid V 2.0 VIDEO
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan
Lesson 9: Setting the Stage
Purpose: Learners will form teams and decide what hobby, interest or passion their team will share in creative and captivating ways.
Introduction:
Teacher introduces the lesson by reflecting on the MASTERPIECE project to date.
Development: Forming Teams
Closure: Document/Share/Tidy up
Each team documents and reflects upon their ideas for their team build - taking photographs of any sketched ideas.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Cillian O’Connor - Britain’s Got Talent 2023
Light Balance Kids - America’s Got Talent
Digital Voting/Response Tool - Mentimeter, Sli.do
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lessons 10: Team Model & Poster
Purpose: Learners will work in teams to create their Team Models and Posters.
Introduction
Teacher introduces the session by reflecting on the MASTERPIECE project to date.
Development: Build
The focus for the remainder of this lesson is on the creation of a Team Model & Poster. It is likely that teams will work at different paces and require different levels of support and scaffolding.
Closure: Document/Share/Tidy Up
Each team documents and reflects upon their builds - adding to their digital portfolios etc.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Digital Poster Software -Canva, Slides, piktochart
Each team documents and reflects upon their builds - adding to their digital portfolios etc.
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lesson 11: Let’s Share Preparation for Celebration Event
Purpose: Learners will prepare to share their MASTERPIECE at a Celebration Event.
Introduction:
Explain the Final Celebration Event where the learners will showcase their LEGO builds and posters.
Development:
Explain to learners that they will have three main jobs at the Showcase event:
1. Share their Team Model and Team Poster, and be able to explain them
2. Answer peer review questions
3. Speak to other teams and learn about their models
Closure: Document/Share/Tidy up
Reflection and assessment (self and peer) of presentations.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Reviewing Sheet and Questions for Final Celebration Event
Please refer to your Teacher Guide for the full lesson plan.
Lesson 12: Let’s Reflect
Purpose: Learners will reflect upon the MASTERPIECE lessons, their Team Model and Poster, and their understanding of how their passions, interests and hobbies can be shared in creative and captivating ways.
Revisiting Masterpiece:
Ask the class to think about their recent Showcase Event.
Meta Reflection:
The following prompt questions should be considered by learners following engagement with MASTERPIECE.
Audit Equipment:
Any final photos or videos of the Team Model should be taken as the final part of this project is to disassemble and audit the LEGO Education equipment.
Digital Content (Links open in New Tab):
Reflection Prompt Questions
SPIKE Essential Audit Sheet
Purpose:
Section A of the DCU - Teacher Guide for Ireland provides the context for FIRST LEGO League Explore.
Within this section you will find the learning principles behind the Explore programme, connections with the Irish Primary Curriculum, the Digital Learning Framework, School Self-Evaluation and the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework.