Famous Figs: A LEGO Collection

First published in September 2020
 

This year, 2020, has been a mess. Many historic things have happened during the start of this year. There were fires in Australia, there was lots of racial injustice, and the coronavirus swept the entire world by storm. Many people lost a sense of normal. They have lost jobs, and sadly, have lost loved ones. The year 2020 will go down in history books as the year our entire world was affected. But the world will power through this, just like we did with the Black Plague in the 1300s and just like the World Wars in the 1900s. The world will work together to find a vaccine for the virus.

But while scientists are inventing vaccines, many people are mandated to be in quarantine. While it may be tough to be stuck in your home all day long there are ways to have fun with your family. My family did a historic LEGO Minifigures collection. As a family we love LEGO. It allows you to be creative in any way you can imagine. This project took around two weeks. We had to build the stand for the figures and the figures themselves. We looked back in history to see the people that made a difference in our world and made it what it was today. It was a whole family effort, and we all contributed.

Once the stand and minifigs were complete, we took photos of the project. We called it Famous Figs. Then I did some research on all of the figs we built—specifically, why each person was important, a quote, and a cool fact about them.

Here are my findings. Before you check them out, try to name all the figs yourself. List 23 names, looking at the rows from left to right. 

 

How many do you know? Row 1 (bottom), five names; Row 2, four names; Row 3, four names; Row 4, three names; Row 5, four names; Row 6, three names. 

 

 

 

Jane Goodall

1934 – present

She was an anthropologist and primatologist. She has been researching primates over 60 years and has been considered an expert on chimpanzees and animal welfare. 

Cool fact: She once sat in a chicken coop for five hours just to watch a chicken lay an egg.

Quote:” The greatest danger to our future is apathy.”

 

Sacagawea

1788 – 1812

She helped Lewis and Clark travel to the west of the U.S. Her main job was to communicate with the local Native Americans.

A cool fact: She traveled from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean with a baby. That's almost 1,500 miles!

Quote: “Everything I do is for my people.”

 

Amelia Earhart

1897 – 1937

She was the first woman to cross the Atlantic by plane. Her next expedition was to circle the globe. Unfortunately, her plane disappeared while crossing the Pacific, her plane was never found. 

Cool Fact: Her first encounter with a plane was at a state fair when she was 10 years old. (Also my mama, Amethel, was named after Amelia Earhart.)

Quote: "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."

 

 

 

Barack Obama

1961 – present 

He was a president of the United States and not only that, he was also the first African American to become the president. He was the 44th president. 

Cool fact: He collects Conan the Barbarian and Spiderman!

Quote: “Change is never easy, but it's possible.”

 

 

Mr. Rogers

1928 – 2003

He had his own TV show and helped inspire many kids to be kind, and he was a down-to-earth, genuine person. 

Cool fact: Mr. Rogers' famous sweaters were made by his mother.

Quote: “We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of telling the world who we are.”

 

 

Galileo

1564 – 1642

He was an astronomer, he discovered the four moons of Jupiter, and he also made many more discoveries with physics.

Cool fact: When NASA had a mission to Jupiter, they named it Galileo in his honor

Quote: “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.”

 

Shakespeare

1582 – 1616

His writing helped influence modern writing, and he was a famous poet, writer, and actor. 

Cool fact: Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets and 38 plays.

Quote: “All that glitters is not gold.”

 

 

 

Albert Einstein

1879 – 1955

He was an extremely accomplished physicist, and he developed the theory of relativity. He also made the famous equation E=mc².

Cool fact: After Albert Einstein passed away, scientists kept his brain for research.

Quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

 

 

Harriet Tubman

1822 – 1913

She escaped from slavery in 1849. She then helped African Americans escape slavery by guiding them through the Underground Railroad. She was an influential anti-slavery activist. 

Cool fact: She was ALSO the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. She led a raid at the Combahee Ferry, which helped to free more than 700 slaves. 

Quote: “Every dream begins with a dreamer.”

 

Manny Pacquiao

1978 – present

One of the greatest boxers in the world, Manny has won 12 major world titles in eight different weight divisions. He's been in 71 fights and has only lost 7.

Cool fact: He became a senator of the Philippines!

Quote: “Life is meant to be a challenge because challenges are what make you grow.” 

 

Henri Cartier-Bresson

1908 – 2004

He was a French photographer who pioneered the genre of street photography and was considered to be a master of candid photography. He was one of the pioneers of photojournalism. He came up with the “decisive moment” which is when you capture a moment that is pure, genuine and not planned, and real, yet the photo still makes sense and is able to convey a message.

Cool fact: He was THE last person to photograph Mahatma Gandhi. Then roughly 15 minutes later, Gandhi was, sadly, assassinated. 

Quote: “Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is meditation.” 

 

Salvador Dali

1904 – 1989

He was a famous Spanish painter. He was known for his precise drawing and fascinating, fantastical compositions in the Surrealist movement. His most known painting is Persistence of Memory, which depicts melting watches on a beach.

Cool fact: Salvador was expelled twice from art school!

Quote: “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.”

 

Julia Child

1912 – 2004

She was known for her famous cooking shows, and she also helped bring French dishes into American culture. 

Cool fact: She was a spy during World War II.

Quote: “Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”

 

 

George Washington

1732 – 1799

He was the first president of the United States, and he helped shape our nation and helped win the Revolutionary War.

Cool fact: George Washington was the first to sign the Constitution.

Quote: “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.”

 

 

Bono

1960 – present

He is the lead vocalist and songwriter for the famous band U2, which has many hits such as “With or Without You,” “Where the Streets Have No Name,” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” (By the way, my family always listens to U2 while driving through the desert.)

Cool fact: He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II !!!

Quote: “Music can change the world because it can change people.”

 

Steven Spielberg

1946 – present

He has directed many famous films such as Jurassic Park, E.T., and Jaws. He has won two Oscars and is considered to be one of the greatest directors of all time. 

Cool fact: He helped create the rating of PG-13.

Quote: “All of us every single year, we're a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all our lives.”

 

Mark Twain

1835 – 1910

He was a famous writer and was even considered to be the father of American literature. He was applauded for his humor in his books. He has written many classics, such as Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. 

Cool fact: Mark Twain’s dream was to become a steamboat pilot, which he eventually did.

Quote: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” 

 

Cleopatra

69 BCE – 30 BCE

Cleopatra was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. She was the descendant of a companion to Alexander the Great and was a lover to Julius Caesar. 

Cool fact: Even though she ruled Egypt, she was not Egyptian, she was Greek.

Quote: “All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise.”

 

Dorothea Lange

1895 – 1965

She was an American photojournalist who documented the Great Depression. She helped influence the development of documenting through photos. Her work brought to light the rural poor people’s dire situations. One of her most famous photos is called Migrant Mother. 

Cool fact: Dorothea Lange was the first woman to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, but she gave it up to photograph Japanese-American internment camps for the government.

Quote: “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

 

Bruce Lee

1940 – 1973

He was originally born in Hong Kong and moved to America. He brought martial arts to America. He also starred in around 20 martial arts movies. He was considered to be one of the most influential martial artists of all time.  

Cool fact: Bruce Lee had bad eyesight so he was actually one of the first people to try contact lenses. He found them uncomfortable and went back to wearing Coke-bottle glasses. 

Quote: “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

 

Pelé

1940 – present 

He is considered the best of all soccer/football players. He has scored 727 goals in his 21-year career. He played for the New York Cosmos and Santos FC.

Cool fact: He is one of the only players to win three World Cups.

Quote: “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”

 

 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

1933 – present

She is a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She was nominated for the position by President Bill Clinton. She is the second female Justice (out of four) to be appointed to the position. 

Cool fact: She does 20 push-ups EVERY DAY. Even at 87 years old!

Quote: “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” 

 

Abraham Lincoln

1809 – 1865

He was the 16th president of the United States and had a major role in ending slavery, which was the cause of the Civil War. He still helped the nation through its greatest political crisis. He was, sadly, assassinated in April 1865 by John Wilkes Booth.

Cool fact: Abraham Lincoln actually created the Secret Service.

Quote: “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

 

This research took a while, but it was worth it!  

My family and I had lots of fun working on this project. I encourage you to do a project with your family. It doesn’t have to be like this. It can be anything you want. It may be hard to be in your house all the time, stuck with your siblings and parents. But doing projects like this can help bring your family together.

All this change may be hard, but keep in mind that everything is going to be okay. I have a saying that keeps me going through these uncertain times, and that’s “This too shall pass.” No matter how you are feeling, or what you're experiencing, know that eventually, it will pass. Yes, that might be sad, but it’s going to be how life is. It can also be positive and helpful. All this madness and craziness will pass. We will get through all of this, together. So be safe, practice social distancing, wear a mask, and live life to its fullest. 

 

Photos: Paz with Minifigs by Kai Parel-Sewell, minifig display by Amethel Parel-Sewell, Goodall by Muhammad Mahdi Karim, Sacajawea by Edgar Samuel Paxson, Earhart by Underwood & Underwood, Obama by Pete Souza, Shakespeare by FierceAbin, Einstein by F. Schmutzer, Tubman by Harvey Lindsley, Pacquiao by Joaquin008, Dali by Carl Van Vechten, Child by Lynn Gilbert, Washington by Gilbert Stuart, Bono by David Shankbone,  Spielberg by Gage Skidmore, Twain by A.F. Bradley, Cleopatra by whitemay, Lee by Natural General Pictures, Pelé by John Mathew Smith, Bader Ginsberg by R. Michael Jenkins, Lincoln by Alexander Gardner

Updated 9/06/2020 Creativity295 History53 Discover552 LEGO5 Careers214 Families78 Challenges257 Exploration7 Heroes53 Blogs37 Knowledge46