The LEGO Group and Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, have launched three new videos, funded by the LEGO Foundation, encouraging children aged 4-6 to discover the natural world through play.
Featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster and other Sesame Street friends, the videos introduce children to bats, butterflies and worms before inviting them to build habitats using LEGO bricks and everyday craft materials.
The LEGO Group’s free activity guides and printables help families and educators extend the experience through hands-on play at home and in community settings.
Each three-minute video focuses on one creature, its habitat and the important role it plays in the ecosystem, helping young viewers understand how these creatures contribute to the natural world and why they matter.
In the bat video, Cookie Monster gets a fright from a bat before learning from The Count how bats help pollinate plants and protect crops, including cacao trees, where chocolate comes from. In the butterfly video, Elmo and Grover learn through building and crafting that butterflies are a sign of a healthy garden and set about creating more butterfly-friendly spaces. In the worm video, Oscar the Grouch shows Elmo how worms keep soil healthy and gardens growing.
The videos are the starting point for a wider nature learning experience. The LEGO Group’s activity guides and printables give caregivers and educators the tools to turn each film into hands-on play for children, at home or in museums, libraries and community groups.
“Children look after what they love, and we want to help them fall in love with nature,” commented Lauren von Stackelberg, vp and head of social responsibility at the LEGO Group. “Through play, something as simple as building a habitat can turn curiosity into care, and care into action. Together with Sesame Workshop, we’re helping children connect with nature and feel empowered to protect it.”
Samantha Kennedy, vp of marketing and brand strategy at Sesame Workshop, continued: “For generations, families have trusted Sesame Street to help children explore the world with curiosity, kindness and joy. Through engaging stories and beloved characters, we’re helping children discover that their actions, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference in caring for nature.”
Families and educators can access the three videos and accompanying LEGO Group activities now on the Build the Change webpage, while the videos continue to roll out on Sesame Street’s YouTube channel.
(This initiative does not include a commercial LEGO set or product. The videos and accompanying activities are free educational resources available to families and educators.)
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