Leicester students dive into STEM learning with the LEGO Discover programme

The FIRST LEGO League Discover programme has signed over 180 Leicester pupils up to learning about science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

As a joint venture between Leicester City in the Community and The Institute of Engineering and Technology, the children enrolled are encouraged to be creative and design their own builds out of LEGO and DUPLO bricks. All of the activities are designed to develop the children’s STEM skills and encourage them to continue further education in these areas.

Four Leicester primary schools from the Lionheart Academy Trust are taking part: Highcliffe, Brocks Hill, Riverside and Hallam Fields. Still more schools have expressed interest in taking part next year. As well as developing their STEM skills, the programme includes a strong focus on soft skills of creativity, communication, teamwork, and resilience.

The 180 pupils are aged between four and six. The challenges are all based around the theme for 2021: playmakers. They were encouraged to think about designing and building things to help people stay active and healthy through sport and exercise, with a focus on accessibility and inclusion for everyone. As a result, the kids have been building sport stadiums, obstacle courses, treehouses, and more.

“The range of creativity I see every week is awe-inspiring,” says Dr. Alex Evans, STEM Coordinator at Leicester City in the Community. “The session structure is focused enough to help guide them towards shared goals, but flexible enough to let them fully express their imagination.”

You can find out more about the FIRST LEGO League Discover programme on the official website.

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