The LEGO and "Story Table" Workshops use the same principle to engage and teach: students construct to retell the Bible story using props (figurines, LEGO, etc). Sometimes we have even called them "Construction" Workshops to differentiate them from Dram and Puppets. In truth, all are types of STORYTELLING with props.

A LEGO "Workshop" in Rotation parlance is a classroom set up to make LEGOS the main learning activity for the lesson plan. It can be as simple as a classroom with a bucket of LEGOs, or a special LEGO area with lots of LEGO and prop construction supplies. Projects can be individual, pairs, groups. LEGOs can be used as an opening or main or reflection activity. And it's popular to retell the story using LEGOS and a cellphone video camera to record it for posterity! (Recording has the effect of helping students focus on getting it right.)

Any Bible story you can tell with puppets or drama can be retold with LEGOs. As a fun "hands-on" medium, LEGOS create excitement and focus, and they promote storytelling and memory. They are also reusable and infinitely configurable.

Ten Reasons Why We Like "LEGO" Workshops:

1. Kids and adults love to build with Legos.
2. Many church members have Legos to donate!  They can also be purchased in bulk online.
3. Lego projects naturally adapt to the creator's skill and imagination.
4. Construction focuses their mind's attention. It's the fine-motor skills that do it!
5. Construction can foster cooperative behavior.
6. Legos have a cool factor.
7. Creating the scene of a story helps students imagine and better remember the story, and consider details they may not have noticed by simply reading or hearing the story.
8. Lego characters are POSABLE. In addition to conveying action and reaction in the story.
9. Lego story creations create a record or display of the story that can be displayed and shared with others.
10. LEGOs can be used to spell words, verses, and reflections.

Whether you're constructing one Bible story scene, or splitting into groups and creating several different scenes in a story, LEGO creations are personal ("I made that") and they are shareable ("let me tell you the part of the story I constructed").

Here are some photos from State Street UMC's Elijah rotation

Different groups took different parts of the Elijah story, which they had been studying that month, recreated and then retold the story in Legos.

Do you recognize Elijah's story above?
Hint: Notice the fallen characters and blue border.
Answer at the end of this post.

Elijah calls Elisha to service. Elijah eats dinner with Elisha and his family.

Answer to the first photo:
1 Kings 18:  Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel.
Elijah had them pour water on his bull and God sent down fire.