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Are you a Lego fan in the D.C. Area? If so, head on over to the Smithsonian this coming weekend! If not, keep reading to find out how you can participate in some super fun Lego activities in your local area.

The Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center’s research declares that “Play” leads to invention and innovation and now, more than ever, it is vital to get parents excited about inspiring an inventive spirit in their children.

WHAT: Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation has joined forces with the LEGO Group to celebrate National Inventors Month by building an 8-foot-tall by 6-foot-wide model of Thomas Edison’s light bulb – the universal sign of a big idea! This free, two-day collaborative LEGO build will help demonstrate Lemelson Center’s research linking the importance of “play” to invention and innovation. Spark!Lab, the center’s hands-on invention space, will feature special building and engineering-related activities throughout the weekend.

WHO: Museum visitors of all ages are welcome to join the LEGO Master Builders as they endeavor to build this larger than life light bulb completely out of LEGO bricks in two days! Families not in DC can get involved by visiting their local LEGO Brand store and participating in the simultaneous building events, or simply sign up for the 3^rd Annual LEGO Click Awards for a chance to win a $5,000 savings bond.

WHEN: Build: Saturday, August 1^st 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 2^nd 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: The National Museum of American History’s First Floor Plaza- 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

NOT IN D.C.? READ ON!
Families not in DC can still get involved in a number of ways.
1. Kids age 6-13 can participate in the 3^rd Annual LEGO Essay Contest – the LEGO Click! Awards which will be launching on Saturday, August 1^st. The contest asks children to write about a time when they were inventive. 5 children will win a $5,000 savings bond.

2. LEGO Brand Stores throughout the United States will host simultaneous National Inventors Month building celebrations this weekend as well so if you are near a store, feel free to pop in!
Find a store here.

3. Parents looking to incorporate fun Invention lessons at home can tap into the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center resources by visiting www.InventionatPlay.org or http://invention.smithsonian.org/home/ to download free educational PDF’s and check out information regarding inventor fun facts, stories and activities. Now, go play, preferably with some Legos.