Most magical creatures — we’re looking at you, Santa and Easter Bunny — want little from us in return. For young ones hoping for a St. Patrick’s Day payday, they had better rise to the challenge and use their creativity to build a trap. As the legend goes, if the trap is good enough to ensnare the Leprechaun, then he must part with his (chocolate) gold coins to make his escape.
If you’re feeling a little curmudgeonly about the whole affair, here’s another way to look at it — the contraptions are actually an ingenious way to “trick” your kids into taking on an engineering challenge!
Engineering, as you may know, is all about building or fixing a device to solve a problem. And the problem your child is faced with is attracting and catching a leprechaun, so they can wake up to find candy!
The process of engineering
Building a leprechaun trap is a family effort. You provide the materials, and the kids design the trap (and wait anxiously to see if it “works”). To keep the project moving along, you’ll want to provide a guiding hand and ask some of the following questions that are based on the engineering method. More than likely, your child may execute these steps naturally and on their own. But if they get stuck, remind them that getting blocked and looking for the solution is a very normal part of the process!
Ask: This puts the focus on the problem that needs to be solved. In this case, you might ask, “What can you use to catch a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day?” To keep it interesting, be sure and limit the solution to things you can find around the house.
Visualize and imagine: Time to start brainstorming. Send everyone on a scavenger hunt around the house for objects and materials that can be rigged into traps. The recycling bin can prove to be a rich resource, especially if you have boxes from the latest online order and clean food containers. Kitchens, play areas, closets, art supply shelves, attics and just about anywhere else in the house are good places to search for good leprechaun-catching materials.
In addition to making a trap that would hold a leprechaun, you also have to think of something that would attract a leprechaun’s attention. Should it be something to eat, something bright and shiny?
Once everyone has some ideas on what could catch the leprechaun, the final step is to choose the best idea.
Plan: Before the building commences (followed by the application of play gold coins, paper rainbows and green glitter), talk through the design, list the materials needed, and describe how the trap would work to catch mythical fairy creatures. Better yet, have the kids draw it on paper.
Create: Ready, set, build! Once finished, it’s time to test out the design. If it has moving parts to it, such as a trap door or a variation of the simple box-and-stick trap, it’s time to test it out. But the real test won’t come until the night of St. Patrick’s Day, when the leprechaun comes around. If shiny (chocolate) gold coins are left behind, then you know it works!
Evaluate: A feat of engineering is never quite finished, because most designs will go through another round of the process before they come out just right. That probably wouldn’t happen here. Still, after the fact, asking a few simple questions about their creation can be useful and insightful. After the fact, before it’s time to dismantle or put away the trap, start a conversation. Ask the kids what they thought worked really well with the design and what they would do differently.
Guiding your child as they design and build their own leprechaun trap is a great introduction to the engineering process — and it’s just another way to incorporate STEM-inspired activities (science, technology, engineering and math) into your time together.
In 2019, Bricks 4 Kidz is celebrating 10 years of helping kids learn STEM subjects through hands-on after-school programs and camps. Whether your kids would love to build awesome new creations from LEGO Bricks, program a robot or design a video game, you’ll want to discover the exciting programs taking place in your area. Sign up today!
Most magical creatures – we’re looking at you, Santa and Easter Bunny – want little from us in return. For young ones hoping St. Patrick’s Day payday, they had better rise to the challenge and use their creativity to build a trap. As the legend goes, if the trap is good enough to ensnare the Leprechaun, then he must part with his (chocolate) gold coins to make his escape.
If you’re feeling a little curmudgeonly about the whole affair, here’s another way to look at it – the contraptions are actually an ingenious way to “trick” your kids into taking on an engineering challenge!
Engineering, as you may know, is all about building or fixing a device to solve a problem. And the problem your child is faced with is attracting and catching a leprechaun, so they can wake up to find candy!
The process of engineering
Building a leprechaun trap is a family effort. You provide the materials, and the kids design the trap (and wait anxiously to see if it “works.”keep the project moving along, you’ll want to provide a guideing hand and ask some these questions that are based on the engineering method – the steps followed to find the solution to the problem. More than likely, your child may execute these steps very naturally and on their own. But if they get stuck, knowing that getting blocked and looking for the solution is a very normal part of the process!
Ask:This puts the focus on the problem that needs to be solved. In this case, you might ask, “What can use to catch a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day?” To keep it interesting, be sure and limit it to things you can find around the house.
Visualize and imagine:Time to start brainstorming. Send everyone on a scavenger hunt around the house for objects and materials that can be rigged into traps. The recycling bin can prove to be a rich resource, especially if you have boxes from the latest online order and clean food containers. Kitchens, play areas, closets, art supply shelves, attics and just about anywhere else in the house is good places to search for good leprechaun catching materials.
In addition to making a trap that would hold a leprechaun, you also have to think of something that would attract a leprechaun’s attention. Should it be something to eat, something bright and shiny?
Once everyone has some ideas on what could catch the leprechaun, the final step is to choose the best idea.
Plan:Before the building commences (followed by the application of play gold coins, paper rainbows and green glitter), talk through the design, list the materials needed, and how the trap would work catch mythical fairy creature. Better yet, have the kids draw it on paper.
Create:Ready, set, build! Once finished, it’s time to test out the design. It if has moving parts to it, such as trap door or a variation of the simple box and stick trap, it’s time to test it out. But the real test won’t come until the night of St. Patrick’s Day, when the leprechaun comes around. If shiny (chocolate) gold coins are left behind, then you know it works!
Evaluate:A feat of engineering is never quite finished, because most designs will go through another round of the process before it comes out just right. That probably wouldn’t happen here. Still, after the fact, asking a few simple questions about their creation can be useful and insightful. After the fact, before it’s time to dismantle or put away the trap, start a conversation. Ask the kids what they thought worked really well with the design and what they would do differently?
Guiding your child as they design and build their own leprechaun trap is a great introduction to the engineering process – and it’s just another way to incorporate STEM-inspired activities (science, technology, engineering and math) into your time together.
In 2019, Bricks 4 Kidz is celebrating 10 years of helping kids learn STEM subjects through hands-on after school programs and camps. Whether your kids would love to build awesome new creations from LEGO Bricks, program a robot or design a video game, you’ll want to discover the exciting programs taking place in your area.Sign up today!