Free Lego Math Activities, Games, and Lessons for Kids
Rose is a full-time freelance writer who frequently writes about education, special education, DIY projects, food, Milwaukee, and more.
| Lego Math Options |
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Activities |
Games |
Lesson Plans |
Worksheets |
Printables |
Other Materials |
There are a wide variety of manipulatives that teachers and parents can use to enrich math lesson plans, games, and activities. Lego bricks are a great option. From patterns to adding to graphing, there are methods for incorporating Legos into math lessons for virtually any level of grade school. Don't forget to consider using Legos to expand simple worksheets and printables as well. A simple manipulative or two can make all the difference between an okay lesson and a great lesson.
FYI: The knobs on a LEGO brick are called studs. They are referred to as such in this article.
Most of the linked lesson plans and other materials are geared toward special age groups or skill levels. Don't feel limited to this. Many of the activities here can be modified or adapted for multiple groups.
This article includes the following math skills.
| Skill Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
Addition / Subtraction | Counting | Fractions |
Graphing | Greater than / Less than | Length |
Math terminology | Multiplication | Ordering |
Patterns | Shapes | Volume |
Weight |
- Add & Subtract: LEGO Education
- Double Digit Addition and Subtraction {with Lego Bricks}
Use your Lego bricks as a hands-on way to teach kids how to add and subtract double digit numbers with remainders. - Lego Math (Free Add. & Sub. Worksheets) | Squarehead Teachers
Addition / Subtraction
Add Lego bricks or the studs on the bricks. Many students benefit from learning the concept of "adding on" in order to grasp the concept of addition. Legos are a great supplement for any "adding on" lesson. Consider the colors of the Legos for any addition or subtraction lesson. Students may benefit from distinct color groups for different numbers (i.e. adding four red blocks and six blue blocks).
Exploding Mathematics in Lego
- Counting and Measuring with Lego: Preschool Maths Game : The Imagination Tree
- Play 'n' Learn: Lego Counting Mat
Counting
In addition to simply counting individual bricks, students can count the number of studs on the bricks. Legos are also a great tool for practicing counting by groups of 2, 5, 10, and more.
Alternative: Consider dedicating a small group of Duplo blocks for math activities. Label one side of each block with the number and another side of each block with a set of dots to represent that number. Can students count the dots? Can they order the blocks correctly? Check out the link to the right from The Imagination Tree for more ideas for these blocks.
Estimation
Create groups of Legos and have students determine which group has approximately X number of Legos. Check the guesses afterward and compare the numbers.
- E is for Explore!: Lego Fractions
- The Tutor House: LEGO Math Ideas Part 3
- Using LEGO to Build Math Concepts | Scholastic.com
Here are some of the many ways that I use LEGO to boost engagement while introducing my students to a wide range of math concepts.
Fractions
You can build stacks of Legos to work on any number of different fractions. It is important to consider the color choices for the stacks (i.e. one half of the stack is red, one half of the stack is blue). As students become more comfortable with the concept, it may be appropriate to ask them to break stacks into fractions (i.e. divide the stack of Legos in half) without any relation to the colors at hand. Legos also lend themselves to the concept of "how many parts make a whole?" which can be a great component of a fractions lesson.
- E is for Explore!: Lego Geometry
- Calculating Perimeter and Area Using LEGO Base Plates
- 10 Hands-On Strategies for Teaching Area and Perimeter | Scholastic.com
Geometry
Legos are great tools for teaching area, perimeter, and volume. Consider taking Lego base plates in different sizes and having students calculate the area and perimeter for each. You can also use Legos to construct your own squares and rectangles for calculating area and perimeter. Build Lego stacks in varying heights and thicknesses for students to calculate the volume. Consider complex shapes that may require students to break down the individual pieces in order to calculate area, perimeter, and volume.
Graphing
You can incorporate Legos into virtually any graphing lesson plan that involves manipulatives. Instead of using cube blocks to build graphs, students will enjoy the change of using Lego blocks.
Math Terminology
Legos can be used to supplement lessons and activities pertaining to any of the follow math terms:
- Above / below, over / under
- Before / between / after
- Equal / unequal
- First / last
- Greater than / less than
- Left / right
- Long / short
- Mean, median, mode, range
- More / less
- Ordinal numbers (first, second, third...)
- Similarities / differences
- Small / large
- Spacial relationships (i.e. is the small block on the top or the bottom of the stack?)
- Top / middle / bottom
- Math Vocabulary
Math Vocabulary terms for Grades K-12 based on the Common Core State Standards. These academic vocabulary lists can be used to play any of our 25 activities, worksheets or printables. Lists cover a wide variety of categories. - Harcourt Math Glossary
Animated and illustrated definitions of math terms for elementary school students. - Elementary School Math Terms | Everyday Life - Global Post
Measurement
One of the standard components in any measurement unit is non-standard measurements. Legos are a great option. Use Legos to measure various objects around the classroom. Then challenge students to find objects that match the length of given Lego stacks.
Multiplication in Kindergarten using Lego blocks
Multiplication
Lego bricks lend themselves naturally to multiplication as students can multiply the number of studs on one length by the number of studs on the other length of a given brick. To make larger bricks, simply lay bricks right next to one another on a table or other flat surface.
Patterns
Create patterns with Legos and have the students extend the patterns or copy the patterns. Give them the opportunity to create their own patterns as well.
Shapes
Can students tell the difference between the square Legos and the rectangle Legos? Discuss their similarities and differences. Are there other shapes that you can build with Legos? Lay them out on the floor to build triangles. Can students build different types of triangles (i.e. right, isosceles)?
- How to Use Legos to Teach Kids
- Photo - Sorting - Lego math activities. Learning through fun! - Toronto Early Childhood Education
Sorting
Sort Lego bricks into different groups by color, shape, size, or number of bumps. Can the students name the colors or count the numbers? Discuss how the sorted groups are the same and how they are different. If you are doing a color sort, can the students pick out the primary colors?
LEGO Math Time
Weight
You can use a kitchen scale or a postal scale to measure groups of Lego blocks in ounces and pounds.
Even More Lego Math Resources
- Little Brick Schoolhouse - ACTIVITIES
- Using LEGO to Build Math Concepts | Scholastic.com
Handful of free printable worksheets included. - LEGO Education | legoeducation.us
- Lego math common core lesson plans - 8770 free eBooks on MyBookezz.com
- Learning with LEGOs : an independent study
- Learning with Lego
More Teaching Materials From the Author
- Halloween Math for Kids: Free Candy Corn Activities, Worksheets, and Printables
Are you looking for free games, activities, worksheets, and printables for your students or your own children this Halloween? Consider candy corn math! - Teaching Kids How to Tell Time: Velcro Clock Teaching Materials
Are you teaching time to your own kids or to your students? Consider using Velcro materials. This article covers time skills that students learn in kindergarten through 4th grade. - Phonics Teaching Activities: Visual and Velcro Materials
Are you looking for phonics teaching materials for elementary special education students? Consider creating materials with visuals and Velcro that you can use for a wide variety of classroom activities.
Comments
Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 21, 2014:
Thanks, kerlund! Glad to hear it.
kerlund74 from Sweden on February 21, 2014:
Great ideas. Can be very useful!
Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 07, 2014:
Very cool, Kathleen! I appreciate the share!
Kathleen Cochran from Atlanta, Georgia on January 07, 2014:
Shared with my daughter on facebook. Her 7-year-old has discovered the wonder of legos!
Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 08, 2013:
Thanks! I agree. :)
Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on September 08, 2013:
I love Legos! What cool ideas! Fun ways to learn are the best. :-)
Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 21, 2013:
I'm so glad to hear that, RTalloni! I'm sure that your grandchildren will enjoy these activities.
calculus-geometry, yes, absolutely!
Lastheart, that's great. :) Thanks!
Maria Magdalena Ruiz O'Farrill from Borikén the great land of the valiant and noble Lord on May 21, 2013:
Very good job! I have also written in behalf of these great colorful plastic little things. Great to know about this hub, very complete and informative.
RTalloni on May 21, 2013:
Yay--so glad to see this great resource! :) Will be sharing it with others and pinning to my Home Ed board, and most of all, I hope to do some of these lego math activities with my grandchildren one day. Linking it to my hub on gift ideas for kids, too.
