Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Brownie Automotive Design badge requirements.
Designing a group-built vehicle with building blocks like LEGO can be a fun way to encourage collaboration while saving time. Here’s how scouts can create a shared car design without spending hours on tiny details.
Items Needed:
- LEGO bricks (or any type of building blocks)
- A large flat baseplate for structure (optional)
- Small pre-built LEGO wheels (or flat bricks to represent wheels)
- Scrap paper & pencils for sketching ideas
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 25–30 minutes):
- Step 1: Plan as a Team (5–6 minutes)
- Scouts sketch a simple idea for their vehicle, each person contributes a feature.
- They assign roles, like:
- Base builders (create the vehicle’s body)
- Wheel designers (attach wheels)
- Detail creators (add doors, windows, headlights)
- Step 2: Build Together (15–18 minutes)
- Start with the main vehicle body – Use larger bricks to form the base first.
- Attach wheels early – This keeps the shape clear while adding parts.
- Each scout adds a section – They can place simple features like headlights, seats, or cargo space, avoiding complex builds.
- Keep it sturdy – Make sure pieces connect well so the car holds together.
- Step 3: Test & Share (5–6 minutes)
- Scouts roll or slide their completed car to test stability (if using workable wheels).
- Discuss:
- What features did they include?
- How did working in small sections help them finish faster?
- What could they add or improve if they had more time?
The Badge Archive 