"I love putting the pieces together and seeing the final result," said Community School of Naples student Stella.
Sifting through bricks of the staple childhood toy transforms Briana Leschen's middle school classroom into a playground of creativity for her "Lego mastery" elective course.
"Every day, it's something else," Leschen said. "Some of the boys are really working on vehicles and structures, and the girls are working on nature scenes and animals."
In the course, middle schoolers conceptualize Lego kits of different kinds with their peers and the help of technology.
"There are apps like Brick It that allow you to scan a whole bunch of Legos that are out on a table," Leschen said. "Based on the pieces available, it gives suggestions on kits you can build."
Using 3-D models on their laptops helps the kids customize their kits into endless possibilities.
"I just feel like the sky is the limit," Leschen said.
"I started off building a little torch," said student Nathan. "From there, I built a butterfly, and I just finished building an office desk and a seagull."
It's not only a tool for the imagination but also a way for the kids to give back.
"I was really excited to know we were going to donate them to Valerie's House. That's really cool," Stella said.
While these Legos may be small, the joy they give and the ideas they inspire are much bigger.
"Using your own two hands to make something to gift to someone and just even thinking about people other than yourselves is such a wonderful thing," Leschen said.
Students in the Lego Mastery course will visit and donate their Lego kits to Valerie's House on Monday, Feb. 24.