Tag Archives: Recreation

March 8, 2013 · 4:19 pm

Legos @ the Library: Creative Creations

On this beautiful afternoon that hinted of spring, Lego builders of all ages got together to do their thing!  (Ok, no more rhyming, I promise!)  This Lego session seemed especially creative to me, for some reason.  Maybe the spring air has our minds going in different directions…who knows.  Anyway, here are some photos from today’s Lego group:

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Everyone searching for the perfect piece to complete their creations.

DSC02840One Lego builder made this futuristic vehicle.

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One Lego builder took one of my challenges and built this bridge in 5 minutes, only using one hand!

Here are some more creative creations:

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What is your idea for a creative Lego creation?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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November 13, 2012 · 11:54 am

Legos @ the Library: Inspired by books

Anyone who has read Chris Van Dusen’s book, Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit will recognize this Lego creation:

It’s Randy Riley and his home run hitting robot!

Here are a few of the other Lego creations from Friday’s meeting:

A Lego builder works on a state of the art police station.

Here’s a look at the inside of the station.

This ship has a secret compartment!

A close-up of the bow.

A new take on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I love the idea of making Legos inspired by books.  You could start small with Gerald and Piggie and then move up to creating Hugo’s automaton (from The Invention of Hugo Cabret).  The possibilities are endless!  Which character would you create with Legos?

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September 14, 2012 · 4:12 pm

Legos @ the Library: Back to School

Here in Maine, school has been back in session for about a week and a half.  It’s that magical time right after school starts where the weather still feels like summer and the kids don’t have homework yet.  Free time after school provides the perfect opportunity to hang out at the library and build with Legos!

There were some great creations today and here are a few of them:

This vehicle can travel on land, sea, or even fly into outer space!  The two guys in the front are driving the vehicle (and looking for bad guys) and the red one in the back is on his laptop playing  ninja computer games (the tall tower on the back is for the Internet).

 

This is a computer room with a green couch.  I like the color scheme!

 

This is a machine that can crush anything.  Look out, other Lego creations!

 

The vehicle is a plane/boat and the guy with the cape is riding a Segway.  He may look evil, but he’s a good guy who just needs to shave his mustache.

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

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August 26, 2012 · 6:48 am

I’m leaving on a jet plane…

Image from: formandeffect.com

Much like Miss Rumphius, I’ve always wanted to travel the world.  I leave for England today to begin my European vacation (specifics will be disclosed along the way).  I hope you’ll check in to see my pictures, which I hope to be able to post as soon as I can during the trip.  I can’t wait to share this experience with you!

 

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August 17, 2012 · 4:41 pm

Legos @ the Library: Awesome vehicles and houses

Here are some pictures of some great Lego creations from today’s Legos @ the Library meeting:

I bet Star Wars fans can identify this creation.

Here’s a close-up:

Everyone in the future will be driving one of these:

You can drive it, fly it, or use the oars provided if you find yourself near a body of water.  You can scoop things up with the yellow bucket in the back, use the fire in the grey container to light things on fire and the palm tree will keep the sun out of your eyes.  Who could ask for more from a car/plane/boat?

Here’s another great vehicle:

They’re riding in style.

Finally, this would be my dream house if it were life-sized.  It has a beautiful garden and a garage:

This house is home to three owls!

What have you built with Legos lately?

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August 3, 2012 · 4:35 pm

The Reading Pros Recap: Gone-Away Lake

Ellsworth has been so hot, busy and crowded this week, I wouldn’t mind escaping to the solitude of Gone-Away Lake–the fictional secluded village in Elizabeth Enright’s classic book.  Gone-Away Lake is the story of two cousins who only get to see each other during the summer.  The book takes place in the late 1950s and recounts Julian and Portia’s carefree months exploring the woods and catching rare butterflies.  Their summer changes when they stumble across the abandoned village of Gone-Away Lake.  It’s not completely abandoned because there are two people still living there “in hermitude” as one character put it.  The children form a bond with these older, grandparent-like figures and discover the history behind Gone-Away Lake.

We discussed what it would be like to live at Gone-Away.  What would it be like to live with only one other person for company (and a bunch of chickens and goats)?  What would we miss the most about living in society?

Some book club members said they would appreciate the quiet atmosphere.  Most would miss technology (especially video games).

We ate our snack (“homemade bread”-from the bakery at Hannaford with homemade raspberry jam and watermelon) and played Uno.  The older couple in the book plays cribbage to pass the time, but I didn’t have enough time to teach the kids how to play.  Uno was fun although I forgot what a long game it can be!

In closing, I just wanted to mention that Maine St. Andrews did a wonderful job last night at the library.  Here’s a picture of Kate (one of our Reading Pros!) playing alongside her mom, Susan.

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July 13, 2012 · 4:35 pm

Legos @ the Library: Summertime Fun!

Here are a few creations from today’s Lego session.  Everyone seemed to have a plan, so we didn’t follow a theme today.

The ultimate skateboarding challenge.

 

This awesome Lego creation has a few levels.  The section in the back (with the tall tower) is an obstacle course.  The section directly in front of it is the control booth/filming area.  The people going through the obstacle course are being filmed for the movie “Medieval Times”.  There’s also a boat transportation system on the left side of the picture to transport food and water to the crew.

Here’s a side view of the movie set (pictured with one of its creators).

 

An aerial view of the sinking of the Titanic.

Batman and a cop team up to deal with the evil building behind them.

 

Attacking from the left, we have the medieval warriors.  Driving in from the right we have the futuristic warriors!  Who will win in the battle of past vs. future?

I guess only time will tell.  But we do know that these Lego builders are just as fierce as the war between the time periods.

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June 21, 2012 · 6:26 pm

Legos on show at the Ellsworth Public Library

A wide variety of Lego creations have taken over the Ellsworth Public Library’s display case for the rest of the month!  Check out some of the featured pieces:

 

 

Kids have responded positively to the display.  One young man told his younger sister that “it took people a long long time to make those things.”  In response to a child’s questions: “why can’t I take the Legos out and play with them?” and “can I buy those?” one of our librarians responded something to the effect of “the Legos are like art.  You can’t touch them, but you can look at them with your eyeballs.” :)

The pictures don’t really do the Legos justice, so if you’re an Mainer (or visiting) please stop by the library and check out the display!

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June 16, 2012 · 1:38 pm

Bye, bye, butterflies!

We set the butterflies free today at the Butterflies and Bugs storytime.

We walked down by the Union River and found a spot to gather.  And, yes, I am wearing butterfly wings-thanks, Allegra!

Photo credit: Katie Lyons

Then, it was time to open up the “Butterfly Pavilion.”

Photo credit: Katie Lyons

I had never done this before, and I assumed that the butterflies would take the first chance they had to fly away.  It actually took quite a while to coax them out of the enclosure.  Katie and I finally convinced the butterflies to leave by helping them climb onto sticks.

Photo credit: Katie Lyons

The butterflies hung out on the sticks for a while, getting the lay of the land.  We all had the opportunity to study them up close, which was really great.

We returned to the library and I read The Caterpillar and the Polliwog by Jack Kent.  Then, we made butterfly wings and butterfly banners:

Flap your wings!

Have you seen any butterflies recently?  Which kind is your favorite?

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June 8, 2012 · 3:39 pm

Lego Guessing Game

How to play the Lego Guessing Game

1.  Gather two sets of identical Legos (or one set for each player):

2.  Use some sort of screen to separate the players.  One person builds something, giving instruction as he/she goes.  For example, you might instruct your partner to put the long red skinny piece on top of the white square piece as one step.  The goal is to have two identical structures at the end of the game.

Here’s my finished creation (hidden from my partner):

3.  When the builder is finished building (and giving instructions) the two players compare their creations:

Ok, so, not so identical.  It’s fun (and surprisingly difficult) to attempt to give instructions without any type of visual aid (including gestures).  I played a couple of rounds and found out that I was better at receiving the instructions:

These two are almost the same!  This is a fun game to play when you have some spare time and lots of random Lego pieces.  What are some of your favorite Lego games?

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