Love LEGOs? Curious about coding? The Brown Public Library now has two LEGO Robotics kits available to explore! Patrons are invited to reserve one of these kits for use at the library during our open hours. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to use the kits. Each kit is paired with an iPad equipped with the LEGO robotics app.
What is LEGO Robotics?
LEGO Robotics means adding robotic parts such as motors and lights to LEGO builds and then using an app from LEGO to write code (instructions) for these robotic parts. The integration of coding, robotics parts, and LEGOs allows people using the kits to bring all sorts of fun LEGO builds to life including cars, carnival rides, and robots. The awesome LEGO app that pairs with these LEGO kits offers step by step instructions for a wide variety of these different builds. If you don’t have any coding or LEGO experience, don’t be intimidated! The LEGO Essentials app will guide you through the learning process.
Kits we have available:
1) The LEGO Essentials Kit targets kids ages 6-10. Both the building and the coding for this app are relatively simple and fun! People without any LEGO Robotics and/or coding experience might like to try this one first regardless of age.The LEGO app for this kit provides a great deal of support via lesson plans making the builds accessible to most users with a bit of trial and error. Most of the Essentials builds typically take between 45 minutes- 1 hour to complete.
2) The LEGO Prime Kit is designed for kids ages 10 and up. We would recommend this kit for people with some coding experience regardless of age. The LEGO app still offers step by step instructions for building in their lesson plans, but the builds and the coding are both much more challenging. LEGO Prime builds vary in difficulty and typically take between 45 minutes and 2 hours to create.
More details about exploring the kits:
Interested in taking one of these LEGO kits for a spin? You can make a two-hour reservation ahead of time by calling or emailing the library (802-485-4621 or bpl.library01@gmail.com) or you can simply stop by the library to see if one is available. As a reminder these kits are currently only offered for use at the library during our open hours. Children under 12 must use the kit with a supervising adult. Patrons must have a library card to check out the kit (library cards are free and easy to get for Northfield residents!).
These LEGO kits are available at our library thanks to a grant from the NASA Vermont Space Grant Consortium. Thank you!