5 Easy Ways to Use LEGOs in the Classroom

If you’ve ever handed your students a handful of LEGOs, you know the magic that happens next. Their faces light up, imaginations take off, and the classroom hums with excitement. What I love most about using LEGOs (or any snap-together building blocks) in the classroom is that they make learning feel less like work and more like exploration. From STEM challenges to digital building, LEGOs are an incredible way to combine creativity with critical thinking. The best part is that they work for just about any subject or grade level.

Why Use LEGOs in the Classroom

I love how something so simple can open the door to so many learning possibilities. When I use LEGOs in the classroom, my students aren’t just building structures, they’re building skills. Each brick becomes a hands-on opportunity to problem solve, collaborate, and think critically. Whether they’re designing mazes, creating seasonal scenes, or experimenting with digital builds, they’re constantly using higher-order thinking without even realizing it.

What makes LEGOs so effective in the classroom is that they’re naturally engaging. Even my students who usually hesitate to jump into group projects tend to dive right in when LEGOs (or any brand of snap-together building blocks) are involved. They’re motivated to keep trying, to test out new ideas, and to learn from their mistakes. These are all key components of a growth mindset in action. I also love that LEGOs give every student a chance to shine, no matter their learning style or ability level.

LEGOs also fit into almost any subject. From building symmetrical shapes in math to modeling story elements in ELA or exploring design concepts in STEM, there’s no limit to how creative you can get. Once you start finding new ways to use them, you’ll see just how easy it is to turn a simple set of blocks into a powerful learning tool.

The Power of Play-Based Learning

I’ve always believed that learning should feel joyful. Play-based activities make that possible. LEGOs are one of my favorite tools for combining play with purpose. When I bring LEGOs into the classroom, my students are learning through exploration. They’re making decisions, testing outcomes, and revising their ideas all while having fun. It’s hands-on learning at its best.

Play-based learning also helps our students develop soft skills that are just as important as academic skills. When our students build together, they’re communicating, negotiating, and practicing patience. Those skills transfer smoothly into every subject and situation. It’s amazing to watch how a simple LEGO activity can bring out leadership, collaboration, and creativity in even our quietest students.

The beauty of play is that it takes the pressure off while still keeping learning meaningful. There’s no right or wrong way to build. This encourages our students to take risks and think independently. That’s what I love most about LEGOs in the classroom. They make learning feel like an adventure, not an assignment.

Ready to Build? Explore 5 Easy Ways to Use LEGOs in the Classroom

Now that we’ve looked at why LEGOs in the classroom make such powerful teaching tools, let’s dive into some simple, creative ways to bring them to life. I love finding activities that require minimal prep but still pack a big learning punch. These five ideas do exactly that. Whether you’re teaching in-person or digitally, you’ll find options that fit every schedule, subject, and classroom setup.

Each activity encourages your students to think critically, collaborate with peers, and have fun while learning. Best of all, they’re flexible enough to use all year long. From fall-themed builds to problem-solving mazes and interactive digital challenges, here are five easy and engaging ways to use LEGOs in the classroom that your students will absolutely love.

1. Halloween Pumpkin STEM Challenge

The Halloween Pumpkin STEM Challenge is one of my favorite ways to combine creativity, problem-solving, and seasonal excitement. In this activity, your students use LEGOs to design and build their very own jack-o-lanterns. Each pumpkin can be completely unique with different shapes, colors, and even expressions! You can take it a step further by adding a small battery-powered candle inside to make the designs glow.

What I love most about this challenge is how easily it connects to other subject areas. Your students can build symmetrical designs in math, explore emotion through facial expressions for SEL, or even write a short story about their pumpkin in ELA. It’s the kind of activity that feels like play but incorporates multiple standards all at once.

This low-prep challenge is perfect for STEM centers or a whole-class seasonal project. I usually give my students around 25 minutes to build. Then, we take time to share and celebrate everyone’s designs. Watching their faces light up is one of the best reminders of how powerful LEGOs in the classroom can be when we give students space to create and explore.

2. STEM Marble Maze Activity

If you want to strengthen your students’ problem-solving and engineering skills, the STEM Marble Maze Activity is a must-try. Using a base plate, LEGO bricks, and a marble, your students design their own mazes. Then, they test how well the marble can roll through from start to finish. It’s hands-on, challenging, and filled with opportunities for experimentation and improvement.

I love that this challenge encourages my students to think critically about space, angles, and design. They quickly realize that leaving too little space between the walls means the marble won’t move smoothly. This sparks great problem-solving discussions. I’ve seen my students redesign their mazes multiple times just to make them trickier or more creative for classmates to test.

This is one of those activities that easily adapts to any classroom setup. You can run it as a full-class project, a STEM station, or even a small group competition. It’s incredible how something as simple as building a maze can teach resilience, logical reasoning, and teamwork. All of that is because of using LEGOs in the classroom.

3. Seasonal STEM Task Cards

When you need an easy, low-prep way to spark creativity, the Seasonal STEM Task Cards are a teacher’s dream. Each card gives your students a new seasonal building prompt, like designing a scarecrow, an apple, or a haunted house in the fall, or a penguin, snowman, or a mug of hot chocolate in the winter. These tasks encourage creative thinking and allow your students to explore endless possibilities with their LEGO bricks.

I love using these during centers, morning work, or as an engaging early-finisher option. Since each prompt is open-ended, every student’s creation looks completely different. It’s such a great reminder that creativity thrives when there’s no single “right” answer. These cards are also perfect for helping your students build stamina, follow directions, and develop fine motor skills.

If you laminate the cards or display them digitally, they’ll last for years. Pair them with student reflection sheets where your kiddos can draw or measure their designs. You’ll effortlessly tie in math, writing, and the engineering design process. These are one of my favorite go-tos for introducing LEGOs in the classroom to younger students or for adding a seasonal twist to your STEM routine. And. . . by changing the cards out seasonally they always feel fresh and fun.

4. This, That, Build! A Fun and Engaging Digital Game

If you’re looking for a fun twist on decision-making and creativity, This, That, Build! is the perfect fit. It’s a digital “This or That” game with a LEGO-building twist! Your students get to choose between two options, such as cats or dogs, sweet or salty. Then, they collect building blocks based on their answers. By the end of the game, they use the pieces they’ve collected to create a free-build masterpiece.

What makes this activity special is its flexibility. You can play it digitally or use real LEGO pieces. I’ve played it both ways, and it always ends in laughter and excitement. The slides walk you through each round, making setup super simple. You just have to share and play.

I love watching my students get creative with their builds at the end. Some work alone, others team up, and everyone is fully engaged. This, That, Build! is a fantastic way to bring technology and collaboration together while keeping the focus on creativity and critical thinking. It’s one of my favorite digital ways to use LEGOs in the classroom.

5. Digital Brick Building Activities

If you’ve ever wanted your students to collaborate on LEGO challenges without the mess, these Digital Brick Building Activities are the answer. Your students can build virtually using Google Slides or Microsoft. Multiple students can work on the same file at once. It’s a brilliant way to promote teamwork, communication, and digital skills all at once.

This resource comes with two levels of difficulty. Basic tasks that have no restrictions and advanced tasks that have height or length limits. I love using the included reflection sheets so my students can measure, count, and describe their creations. It turns what looks like a simple digital build into a full learning experience that integrates math, writing, and creativity.

What I appreciate most is that these digital activities bring my students together even when they’re working apart. They can brainstorm, collaborate, and problem-solve in real time while practicing key technology skills like drag and drop, copy and paste, and resizing objects. These digital projects are a fantastic way to make LEGOs in the classroom feel modern, inclusive, and endlessly creative.

Are You Ready to Bring LEGOs in the Classroom?

When it comes to LEGOs in the classroom, the possibilities are endless. These tiny bricks inspire big learning moments. Moments that are full of creativity, curiosity, and connection. Whether your students are building mazes, designing pumpkins, or collaborating digitally, you’re helping them strengthen the kinds of skills that truly last. No matter which of these five ideas you start with, your students will be eager to learn, create, and share. That’s the power of LEGOs. They make learning hands-on, engaging, and unforgettable.

For more resources that will help you use LEGOs in the classroom, check out my TPT store.

Join STEM for a Year Club

If you’re ready to bring more creativity and excitement to your classroom without adding hours of prep, you’ll love the STEM for a Year Club. It’s packed with 80 ready-to-use STEM challenges that keep your students engaged all year long. Each challenge comes with task cards, response sheets, certificates, and everything you need to make STEM easy to implement and fun to teach. What I love most is that once you join, you get lifetime access. No subscriptions or extra fees. Just a full year of inspiring challenges that make learning through play simple and stress-free. Join the STEM for a Year Club today and start building a classroom full of creativity, collaboration, and endless possibilities.

Save these Ideas for Using LEGOs in the Classroom

Want to keep these ideas handy for when you’re ready to add more creativity to your classroom? Pin this post to your favorite teaching or STEM board so you can come back to it later! Whether you’re planning seasonal projects or looking for engaging ways to use LEGOs in the classroom year-round, these five resources will help your students learn, build, and have fun at the same time.