DoDEA – Career and Technical Education
Best Practice
Team Building Initiatives
Blind Lego-Builders
Divide the class in teams of 3 students each, with 1 leader per team. Every team gets a copy of a diagram of a Lego structure they are supposed to be constructing, along with the tray of building material. Only the team leader has the access to view the structure diagram, but he/she cannot touch the building material. All he/she has to do is, direct his/her teammates in such a way that they replicate the structure from the provided building material. This helps the class to understand the importance of giving precise instructions and executing them to the word. You can start with the exact number and type of pieces in the tray and then challenge them with a tray with many extra pieces. The team leader can describe the Lego piece and then describe where it connects to the other Lego pieces in the structure. No answering “is this right” The team leader can not point or confirm the correct placement. They can only repeat the placement instructions if the piece is not placed correctly. (If they are CALMLY repeating your directions IT MUST BE INCORRECT).
(Team leader must be calm and help group as stress levels rise with clear tone that builds team confidence)
Gregory Blankenship
AFNORTH