Take your students behind the scenes of one of the world’s most beloved toy companies with this engaging and thought-provoking lesson. Inspired by an authentic BBC News report from the Las Vegas launch event, Brick by Smart Brick explores LEGO’s latest innovation: a new “smart brick” packed with sensors, lights, and sound.
This lesson invites students to discover how the company best known for simple plastic bricks is embracing the digital age. Through authentic video content, learners will explore the features of this new technology, from its “proprietary technology” and “broad capabilities” to its short “battery life” and the concerns that it might “undermine” the toy’s “distinct simplicity.”
Students will develop a range of skills, including:
- Listening for detail through two video comprehension tasks (true/false and short-answer questions).
- Building key vocabulary, with a focus on high-frequency words and essential collocations like global icon, digital age, and first collaboration.
- Critical thinking and speaking, by discussing the role of technology in play and debating whether innovation always equals improvement.
- Creative writing, with an extension task where students write a product review, giving their opinion on whether the smart brick is a revolutionary toy or a step too far.
Your students will leave the classroom not only with new language but also with strong opinions about the future of the toys they grew up with.
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Teach English through innovation, creativity, and the future of play!
