LEGO Ghost Building Challenge and Shadow Science!

Explore shadow science with a simple LEGO Halloween challenge! Build a classic LEGO ghost and add a spooky twist with a flashlight! A variety of basic bricks make this an easy build for LEGO fans of all ages and is particularly fun for the Halloween season. A dose of science through exploring shadows is a great addition to your Halloween STEM lesson plan.

BUILD A LEGO GHOST FOR HALLOWEEN STEM

BUILD A LEGO GHOST

My son and I like to build LEGO creations with basic bricks. These LEGO Halloween ideas are perfect for young kids starting out in the LEGO world. Plus they are simple enough for a young child to do on his or her own.

Easy LEGO ideas that are quick to build and fun to repeat. You can make a whole bunch of these LEGO ghosts even if they end up being different colors!

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges?

We have you covered…

—>>>FREE Halloween LEGO Challenge Calendar

SUPPLIES:

This LEGO ghost is a fun build featured in the LEGO Medium Creative Brick Box 10696. Please note, I am an amazon affiliate and do receive a commission from any items purchased.

Of course, you can use a variety of your own bricks and make a similar design. I had to change out a few pieces based on the bricks I had available! However, I think a great benefit to building with LEGO for kids is the opportunity to problem solve!

Five 1×2 bricks
Two 1×1 bricks with eyes
Two 2×4 plates
One 2×6 plate (base of ghost)
Five 2×2 slopes
Two 2×3 inverted slopes
One 2×4 curved slope
Two flat 1×2 slopes ( I had to improvise!)
Accessories for decorating
Any piece to make a handle
Flashlight

Tip: Use a blend of whatever colors you have!

Tip: If you don’t have these eyes, try using 1×1 bricks with a side stud attachment and add either 1×1 flat eye studs or 1×1 round studs in a translucent color! Get creative!

LEGO GHOST INSTRUCTIONS

Build along with the pictures! Check out the shadow science when you have finished building your LEGO ghost!

While the bricks are out, make a Jack O’ Lantern too!

WHAT’S THE SIMPLE SCIENCE BEHIND SHADOWS?

Shadows are all about physics and light. You need a source of light for there to be a shadow. Grab a flashlight or use a sunny day!

Here, we are using a flashlight because it’s not very sunny out today. When the ghost is in front of the light source it blocks the light and creates the shadow. Since the light can’t pass through the LEGO bricks, it creates a shadow on the wall!

If our bricks were transparent, however, the light would pass through and there would NOT be a shadow! You can actually see that with the ghost’s mouth area and with the translucent bricks I added! Play around with more translucent bricks if you have them.

You can also play around with the angle you hold your ghost or how close or far from the wall you hold it. What happens?