Build the Change Courses

Can children’s ideas inspire the playful schools of the future? Singer, songwriter, producer and philanthropist Pharrell Williams thinks so! He is calling for kids to unleash their creativity for a new LEGO® Build the Change challenge in partnership with his non-profit YELLOW.

Everything you need to inspire children to take part is included in this FREE learning through play lesson resource, featuring slides and a short film with Pharrell inviting young learners to get hands-on as they create ideas for their own personal perfect places to learn, dream, and play.

No LEGO bricks required!

• Target group: 7-12+ year olds.
• Slide presentation, speakers' notes, and educator guide to support delivery of a 45 minute+ learning through play session.
• Children can create their own playful schools from any materials available -- from pen and paper to cardboard and glue to LEGO bricks.
• Skills and knowledge: learning styles, social studies, problem-solving, empathy, accessibility, creativity, collaboration, speaking and listening.

A FREE learning through play lesson resource introducing young learners to the importance of empathy in design. They will learn how built spaces like buildings and parks are designed with people in mind, and apply that learning to designing their own "places for people."

• Animation from the introductory session, explaining the topic.

• Target age: 7-12

• Topics include user-centric design, architecture, built spaces, and accessibility.

• Includes classroom presentations, speakers' notes, and videos to support five 45 minute+ learning through play sessions.

• Each session is centered on hands-on activities where children create their own places from any materials available -- from pen and paper to cardboard and glue to LEGO® bricks.

• Includes printable cards for four kinds of built spaces - schools, parks, museums and train stations -- and 18 different Minifigure characters, each with their own wants and needs.

• Skills and knowledge: social studies, problem-solving, empathy, accessibility, STEAM/design and technology, creativity, collaboration, speaking and listening.

A FREE learning through play lesson resource introducing young learners to the circular economy of electric school buses in the United States – created in partnership with WRI (World Resources Institute).

• Target age: 7-12
• Topics include circular economy, reuse, recycling, pollution and designs for a better future
• Children build their own solutions to a real-world challenge using any materials they have nearby
• One 60-minute Learning through Play lesson plan
• Skills and knowledge: social studies, environmental/earth science, problem-solving, STEAM/design and technology, creativity, collaboration, civic engagement, speaking and listening...

A FREE learning through play resource introducing young learners to the effects of climate change on animals and their habitats, and enlisting them to imagine solutions to these challenges.

• Target age: 7-12.
• Hands-on creation activities let children create their own solutions to real-world challenge. No LEGO® bricks required!
• Four 45-minute Learning through Play lesson plans plus a template to create your own locally-relevant session and plans for a 90-minute "Showcase Day" event can be mixed and matched to create anything from a single session to a months-long Learning through Play course.
• Skills and knowledge: biology/life sciences, physical/climate science, problem-solving, design, creativity, collaboration, civic engagement, speaking and listening.

A FREE learning through play resource introducing young learners to the concept of our human impact on nature, through the lens of "today's dinosaurs," birds.

• Target age: 7-12
• Topics include endangerment, extinction, examples of positive and negative impact, and case studies of birds under threat from human activity around the world.
• Children build their own solutions to real-world challenges using any creative materials available - no LEGO® bricks required!
• Five 45-minute Learning through Play lesson plans plus plans a 90-minute "Showcase Day" event can be timed to create anything from a day-long to a months-long Learning through Play course.
• Skills and knowledge: biology/ecology, ecosystems/habitats, environmental/earth science, geography, STEAM/design, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, civic engagement, speaking and listening.

A FREE learning through play resource introducing young learners to a FUTURE WITHOUT WASTE – where people and planet can thrive together.

• Target age: 7-12
• Topics include circular economy, reuse, recycling, pollution and designs for a better future.
• Children build their own solutions to real-world challenges using materials reclaimed from the trash - no LEGO® bricks required!
• Five 45-minute Learning through Play lesson plans plus plans a 90-minute "Showcase Day" event can be timed to create anything from a day-long to a months-long Learning through Play course.
• Skills and knowledge: social studies, environmental/earth science, problem-solving, STEAM/design and technology, creativity, collaboration, civic engagement, speaking and listening.