Objective: to learn measurement and spatial awareness
Materials: LEGO Bricks, Base Plates, Rulers

Have you ever watched a carpenter frame a house or a construction worker build a building? They must use math and measurement to complete their tasks. Using basic LEGO bricks and simple instructions, you are going to build one wall of a multi-storied project.

Rules:
1. The length of each wall must be equivalent to FIVE 2x4 LEGO Bricks and ONE 2x2 Brick placed end to end. (22 studs across)
2. The height of each wall must be equivalent to EIGHT LEGO Bricks stacks on top of one another.
3. Each wall must have exactly 1 door and 2 windows.
4. The windows on each wall should be exactly the same size. However, the door must be bigger than the windows.

Part I: Building a Solid Wall (No Windows or Doors)
1. How many blocks are in your wall? _________
2. How many 2x2 pieces did you use? ________
3. How many 2x4 pieces did you use? _________
4. What is the surface area of your wall (Length x Height) _________ square inches

Part II: Building a Wall with Windows and Doors
1. How many blocks are now in your wall? ____________
2. How many 2x2 pieces did you use? _________
3. How many 2x4 pieces did you use? ____________
4. How far from the side of each wall did you place your door? ________ inches and ________ inches.

Extension:
1. Can you alter this design for a Mars community? What types of things would need to be changed?
2. Could you build your same wall with fewer bricks?
3. Decorate the interior of this multistoried building. What types of items would need to be included?
 
 

of Linda Hamilton hamilton@marshall.edu With support from  Webpages and pictures on http://www.marshall.edu/LEGO Web camera on http://legocamera.marshall.edu Teleoperate AppaLEGO CITY at http://lego.marshall.edu NASA site of Remote Sensing on http://SENSORSCITY.marshall.edu