LEGO’s Smart Bricks arrive

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LEGO has announced a new system called Smart Play that will reach shops and online stores on 1 March 2026, starting with three Star Wars sets.

Smart Play is designed to make builds feel “alive” by adding lights, sounds, and quick reactions while children play.

The idea began in 2016, when LEGO asked children what they wanted most from their sets. Many said they wanted to build with friends and have toys that could respond and change during play. LEGO then spent almost ten years developing Smart Play to match those wishes.

At the centre of the system is the Smart Brick, a larger 5 by 10 cm brick with a computer chip, motion sensors, lights, and a small speaker inside. It can tell when it is moved and can recognise special pieces nearby. It can even notice the colours of LEGO bricks close to it, helping it choose how to react.

Smart Play also uses Smart Tags, which are small 5 by 5 cm tiles with unique digital codes. When the Smart Brick senses a tag, it can play matching sounds and reactions, like a dinosaur roar or squealing race car tyres. There are also Smart Minifigures, each with a code that lets the Smart Brick recognise the character.

By mixing the Smart Brick, tags, and figures, children can create stories that respond in real time. The first Star Wars sets will let fans replay famous moments, from lightsaber duels to space battles, with characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and R2-D2.

How did this story make you feel?

SMART Prep | Quick Question 210641

The Department of Conservation has placed new signs near a kauri forest track to remind walkers to clean their shoes. Kauri trees are vulnerable to a disease called kauri dieback, which can spread in mud on boots and bike tyres. Rangers say the instructions are simple but vital: scrub, spray, and stay on the formed path. Visitors who follow these guidelines help protect the forest for future generations. A school group visiting the area noticed that the track was damp after rain, so they took extra care before entering the reserve.

In the passage, what does the word "vulnerable" mean?

  

Did You Know?

What special features do LEGO's Smart Bricks have?
LEGO's Smart Bricks can light up, make sounds, and react to movement!

Vocabulary

Click on the words in the article. See if you can find them all.
  • react To respond to something. The Smart Brick can react when it senses movement.
  • sensors Devices that detect changes in the environment. Motion sensors help the Smart Brick know when it is moved.
  • unique Something that is one of a kind. Each Smart Tag has a unique digital code.
  • Thinking Question

    How do you think Smart Bricks will change the way you play with LEGO?

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