Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to apply basic arithmetic skills while engaging in fun Lego activities.

Materials and Prep

• Lego bricks
• Counting cards (created by writing numbers 1-20 on index cards)
• Pen or marker

Prior knowledge: Basic understanding of counting and number recognition.

Activities

1. Count and Sort: Start by counting the total number of Lego bricks you have. Then, sort them into different piles based on their colors or sizes. Count the number of bricks in each pile.
2. Addition Tower: Build a tower using Lego bricks. Roll a dice and add that number of bricks to the tower. Roll the dice three times and add the numbers together to find the total height of the tower.
3. Subtraction Challenge: Create a small Lego scene with a certain number of bricks. Ask a friend or family member to remove some of the bricks without showing you. Try to figure out how many bricks were taken away by counting the remaining bricks.
4. Pattern Creation: Use Lego bricks to create a pattern (e.g., red, blue, red, blue). Ask a friend or family member to continue the pattern by adding more bricks. Count the number of bricks in the pattern and discuss the pattern sequence.

First Grade Talking Points

• "Mathematics is all around us, even when we play with Lego."
• "Counting is an important skill in math. Let's count the total number of Lego bricks we have."
• "Sorting helps us organize things. Can you sort the Lego bricks by their colors or sizes?"
• "Addition is combining numbers to find the total. Let's roll the dice and add that number of bricks to our tower."
• "Subtraction is taking away some numbers from a group. Can you figure out how many bricks were taken away?"
• "Patterns are repetitive sequences. Let's create a pattern using Lego bricks and continue it."