We have some special guest bloggers this month as Ms. Nelson’s third graders (Longfellow) have agreed to share their thoughts on the Geared Up program with us. Geared Up is an excellent introduction to engineering, using LEGOs. The program was first proposed by Gretchen Junker during our last Call for Ideas. Ms. Junker currently serves as the Program Coordinator, and a VEX Robotics Coach. Stay tuned for more posts from Ms. Nelson’s students, and catch up on those you missed here.

Guest Blogger: Evie Oltman

Who doesn’t like LEGOS? Now we can use them in school at the Geared Up LEGO workshop! We used pulleys to lift a load, and that load got lighter each time we added, or improved, our pulleys.

The first thing we made wasn’t very easy to lift. It had no pulley. Then, it got easier.

Next, we added a pulley. It was a lot easier. But it could get even easier…

As we added and improved our pulley systems, it got way easier. It almost felt like I was lifting nothing.  In fact, both my partner, William, and I said, “It feels like I’m holding nothing!”

What do you use when you need to lift something heavy?  I’d use a pulley!