LEGO® is pretty cool and great for STEM based activities! What is STEM, read all about it!  This time, my son wanted to try out a zip line like we had seen in a book. I knew there would be several interesting concepts he could explore through hands on play! Check out our collection of over 40 unique building ideas with LEGO®.  So many great ways to incorporate LEGO® into a STEM environment!

LEGO ZIP LINE STEM PROJECT FOR KIDS

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Simple LEGO Zip Line for Exploring Slopes, Tension and Gravity!

Science is everywhere! You don’t need to purchase a fancy science kit. We love to explore STEM around the house and use common materials and supplies we already have on hand! MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR BEST SCIENCE AND STEM.

This is truly the perfect way for kids to look at ordinary items in new ways and invent something different with them. Science doesn’t just come in a box, well maybe a LEGO® box! Make sure to check out our new LEGO® book, The Unofficial Guide to Learning with LEGO®!

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LEGO Zip Line Set Up

Supplies Needed {affiliate links included}:

LEGO®! {our favorite starter kit}

Parachute Cord or String

Getting started with a LEGO zip line. His idea was to build something for a LEGO® guy to sit in as he zipped down the line. This is a great opportunity to test out those master builder skills!

I helped him start by putting a mini figure on a base and suggested that he build up and around him! When he reached the top, I told him he needed to leave a space for our parachute cord to slide through. He wanted to use two curved pieces, but not necessary.

So now that you have your LEGO® man safely secured in his contraption, it’s time to set up your LEGO zip line. We actually started by securing the parachute cord to door handle and then securing the other end on the railing of our 2nd floor balcony.

My son was very excited….until it crashed and broke.

Here’s a good time to explore some scientific concepts like slopes, gravity, force, etc ! Make sure to ask questions! What happened to the LEGO® man?

The angle of the slope was too great, gravity pulled it down very fast, there was no breaking method or friction to slow him down, and the force that he hit the wall with broke him apart! Read more about our zip line fun below.

We love LEGO for learning and playing with at our house!

We cut the parachute cord shorter. Again I attached it to the door handle, but I showed him how we could be the other anchor  for the zip line.

By keeping tension on the line and raining our arm up and down, we could control the slope of the  zip line. He loved that he could use the lego zip line to make the LEGO® man travel back and forth.

If my son did not keep the cord tight however, the LEGO® man was stuck. Great hand eye coordination activity too!

What he learned through hands on play with the LEGO® zip line!

• speed up the lego man by increasing the angle of the slope
• slow down or stop the lego man by evening out the angle of the slope
• return the lego man by decreasing the angle of the slope
• gravity works to pull the LEGO man down the zip line but the angle of the slope can slow gravity
• tension on the cord is needed to maintain travel

Build a quick and simple LEGO® zip line with just a couple of items! Next time maybe we will add a pulley system, but for now this playful, easy LEGO® zip line was perfect for afternoon play. The discoveries made will last a lifetime!

FOR OUR NEW BOOK, WE UPDATED THE LEGO® ZIP LINE!

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