Making Spirographs with LEGO and Math #dyscalculia

Yoshihito Isogawa makes fascinating “drawbots.” His robots are built out of LEGO parts and create intricate spiral art. The base of Yashihito’s machine is an inverted Lego base. Underneath the base are magnets mounted on gears from Lego education kits. The artist/tinkerer lays a sheet of paper over the base and allows pen holders – made from LEGO bricks, common ink pens, and what appear to be paper clips securing the pens to the bricks – to move in unison with the spinning magnets below.

Yoshihito Isogawa has created stunning spiral art from Legos.

Yoshihito runs a design shop called Isogawa Studio, Inc and is the author of several books on LEGO projects. His book LEGO Power Functions Idea Book (No Starch Press) gives detailed instructions on how to build a variety of LEGO-based mechanisms and machines. Yoshihito also lectures, presents LEGO workshops in schools, and designs LEGO installations for exhibitions.

Key Takeaways:

1
LEGO and math seem to go together well enough for most educators. They want to see their students succeed with new concepts now being introduced.
2
Spirographs can be made using LEGO products with some surprising accuracy. Learn how to make these images and make good use out of these LEGO products.
3
Teachers have caught on to the utility that the design model offers. They want to introduce the technique to their classroom whenever it is possible.