Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand and perform basic addition using LEGO bricks. They will learn to combine different quantities of LEGO pieces to visualize and solve addition problems, enhancing their math skills through hands-on play.
Materials and Prep
- Assorted LEGO bricks (various sizes and colors)
Before the lesson, ensure that there are enough LEGO bricks for the student to use. Familiarize yourself with basic addition concepts if needed, so you can guide the student effectively.
Activities
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LEGO Addition Towers
Have the student create two towers of LEGO bricks with different heights. Ask them to count the number of bricks in each tower and then combine them to find the total. For example, if one tower has 3 bricks and the other has 5, they will learn that 3 + 5 = 8 by physically combining the towers.
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LEGO Addition Stories
Encourage the student to create a short story using LEGO figures and bricks. They can incorporate addition into the story, such as "I have 2 red bricks and my friend gives me 3 more. How many do I have now?" This helps them relate math to real-life situations.
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LEGO Addition Bingo
Create a bingo card with different addition problems using LEGO bricks. For example, one square could be "4 + 2". The student can build the corresponding number of bricks for each problem as they solve them, marking off the answers on their bingo card.
Talking Points
- "Addition is when we combine two or more numbers to find a total. Can you think of a time when you combined things?"
- "Let's count how many bricks are in each tower. How can we find out how many there are altogether?"
- "When we add 2 bricks to 3 bricks, we can say that 2 + 3 equals 5. Can you show me with your LEGO bricks?"
- "Every time we combine bricks, we are doing addition! What other fun ways can we use LEGO to learn math?"