Lego and Sesame Street turn bats, butterflies and worms into a playground for nature learning

A new series of short videos and free activities uses familiar Sesame Street characters and simple building challenges to help four- to six-year-olds understand how creatures support healthy habitats.

The Lego Group and Sesame Workshop have teamed up on a new set of short videos designed to help children aged four to six explore the natural world through play. Funded by the Lego Foundation, the initiative centres on bats, butterflies and worms, using Sesame Street characters such as Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover to introduce young viewers to the creatures and the habitats they depend on.

Each film lasts about three minutes and pairs storytelling with simple building activities. In one, Cookie Monster is startled by a bat before learning from The Count that bats help pollinate plants and protect crops, including cacao trees. Another shows Elmo and Grover using craft materials to create butterfly-friendly spaces after learning that butterflies can signal a healthy garden. A third features Oscar the Grouch explaining how worms keep soil healthy and support plant growth.

The videos are meant to be a starting point rather than a stand-alone lesson. Lego’s free activity guides and printables encourage parents, carers and educators to extend the learning by helping children build habitats with Lego bricks and everyday household materials. The company says the exercises are intended to prompt children to think about food, water and shelter, and to turn curiosity into a more active connection with nature.

Lauren von Stackelberg, vice-president and head of social responsibility at the Lego Group, said: “Children look after what they love, and we want to help them fall in love with nature. 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.” The videos and accompanying materials are available through Lego’s Build the Change webpage, with the films also rolling out on Sesame Street’s YouTube channel. The initiative does not include a commercial Lego set.