LEGO Academy Builds More than Just Projects

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – On her first attempt, Maimuna Jammeh kept on mistaking the LEGO pieces for the needed ones indicated on her Ipad. However, she didn’t let that stop her from reaching her goal of completing the project.

“I didn’t give up, and kept on trying,” reflected Jammeh, who will be entering fourth grade at Gardnertown Leadership Academy in the fall. “By doing this and not giving up, by the last project we did today, it was a lot easier.”

It’s that persistence, along with accompanying self-esteem as well as the academic skills, applying math, science and technology, that 60 students from the Newburgh Enlarged City School District had the opportunity to develop at the three-week 21st Century Program’s LEGO Academy. Held at Gidney Avenue Magnet School (GAMS), the program’s participants included students from GAMS, Gardnertown, Horizons on the Hudson, as well as Balmville Elementary Schools, all of whom were involved in the 21st Century After-School Program during the 2017-18 year. The summer program was made possible by a $1.2 million dollar 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant over the next five years and designated for K-5 students in specific schools. Additionally, Mr. John Houston, through his generous donations, helped make it possible to allow seven challenged students to attend the fun, hands-on learning Academy.

In addition to the daily class day of LEGO building and other activities at GAMS, attendees visited LEGO Land Discovery Center in Westchester, where they had the opportunity to see first-hand the application of the School of Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) on a large scale by building at several locations. Constructing cities from LEGO bricks as well as testing out the quickest LEGO Racers, the students delved into a wide range of challenges.

Their three week camp experience came to a culmination last Wednesday, when they were able to showcase to their families the various details involved in constructing their projects.

Much of that building was centered upon using set piece formulas on Ipads, and then locating and putting together the needed, corresponding LEGO pieces to complete their chosen projects. Visitors last week were also able to view student-created posterboards, specifying their July LEGO Academy experience. Photos, along with statements about what they learned and was most special about their July experience decorated the thoughtful, artistic pieces.
Like Jammeh, Gus Politi and his group did not have all “free sailing” in the process. Putting together a race car, the team of second and third graders hit a roadblock.

“We couldn’t get the wheels to move on the car,” explained Politi. “After we kept checking though, we found out a certain piece was put on wrong, so we fixed it, and then it worked.”
Further creativity could be spotted in that same second and third grade classroom.

“The project was supposed to be a bee, but we made it into a hummingbird,” said Carter Clarke, a soon-to-be third grader at Horizons on the Hudson. “Building it using the computer was the most fun; I like cute little animals, and hummingbirds are my favorite next to penguins.”

Regardless of the project selected, students took away many lasting lessons while learning in a unique setting and priceless fashion.

“The students really took ownership of their learning,” said Matt Darling, a teacher for the second and third graders at the LEGO Camp. “For this, we just give them an idea and they really run with it; overall, the kids really seem to enjoy it.”