Lego Origins
What does the word "Lego" roughly translate to in English from Danish?
"Play well."
Before plastic bricks, what material were Lego’s first toys mainly made from?
Wood.
What new material did Lego begin using to make its famous bricks?
Plastic
What type of instruction did Lego start including to guide kids in building specific models?
Step-by-step building instructions.
What kind of toy is Lego mainly known as today?
A construction/building toy.
In which country was Lego founded?
Denmark.
What major event in Ole Kirk Christiansen’s life pushed him to focus on making toys?
The Great Depression/financial hardship that reduced demand for his regular carpentry work.
What is the special feature of Lego bricks that lets them connect firmly but still come apart?
The interlocking stud-and-tube system.
What kind of themed sets did Lego begin releasing to encourage imaginative play, such as castles or towns?
Theme-based construction sets (like town, space, castles, etc.).
What is one way Lego has expanded beyond just physical bricks?
Through video games, movies, or digital experiences.
Who founded the Lego company?
Ole Kirk Christiansen.
What did Lego’s early wooden toys often feature, like trucks and animals, that made them appealing to children?
Moving or working parts (like pull toys, ladders, and vehicles).
In what year was the modern Lego brick design, with tubes underneath, patented?
1958.
Which small, flexible figures did Lego introduce that became a huge part of their sets?
Lego minifigures.
What is one reason Lego has stayed popular for so many generations of kids?
Its flexibility and ability to be rebuilt into anything.
What kind of business did Ole Kirk Christiansen run before making toys full-time?
A carpentry/woodworking business.
What disaster forced Lego to rebuild and redesign its toy workshop in its early years?
A fire that burned down the workshop.
What color were many of the first plastic Lego bricks when they were introduced?
Mostly red and white (with some basic colors).
What was one of the main goals of Lego sets, besides just building models?
To encourage creativity and open-ended play.
What do many adults who played with Lego as kids often do with Lego today?
They continue building as adult fans or build with their own children.
In what decade did Lego start as a company?
The 1930s.
What important business value did Ole Kirk Christiansen insist on, even when they were poor, that became part of Lego’s culture?
High quality and “only the best is good enough.”
What does the “system of play” idea mean for how Lego bricks are designed?
All pieces are made to be compatible so sets can be mixed and built together.
How did Lego sets help children learn, besides just having fun?
They developed skills like problem-solving, spatial thinking, and fine motor skills.
What overall message does the Lego story give about creativity and play?
That creative play is powerful, timeless, and can grow from simple ideas into something huge.