Workshop Programme Teachers' Notes
Fairground Gears
Activities before the visit
·
Show your pupils the map of LEGOLAND Windsor. Discuss their expectations of
the visit and any concerns, e.g. what to do if they are separated from the group or
they feel unwell during the day.
·
Talk about the activities that will take place.
·
Read out the letter from Professor Ed to stimulate interest in gears.
·
Introduce the pupils to the concept of gears. Talk about bicycle gears and the way
they can make it easier to cycle up a steep hill. Use a rotary hand whisk to
illustrate how gears can be used to change the direction of movement.
Activities after the visit
·
Complete the `Spinning Spider' sheet. Talk about things at home and school that
make circular movements. Which ones use gears?
·
Use the Miniland pictures photocopied onto card for sorting activities and
playing `I spy something that moves...'.
·
Design new rides for LEGOLAND Windsor that use gears. Encourage pupils to
talk about what their rides would do.
Workshop
During a 45-minute workshop, using LEGO Education Early Simple Machine kits, pupils
will enjoy building a fairground ride and using gears to experiment with the ride's
speed and direction. The workshop helps pupils to understand that gears can be used
to change the speed of movement and the direction of movement.
For further information on LEGO Education products tel: 01753 495377 or visit the
web site at www.lego.com/dacta
Spinning Spider
A `tea-cup' ride where the pupils can observe the circular movement of the cups and
ride in them too.
Miniland
A miniature wonderland containing an almost unlimited number of windmills, ferris
wheels, turntables and other things to study.
Brickadilly's Ferris Wheel
The ferris wheel offers the sensations of speeding up and slowing down as well as the
circular, vertical motion of the wheel.
Brickadilly's Carousel
The carousel offers the same experience as the ferris wheel but in a horizontal plane.
