Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand basic geometric concepts through hands-on activities using Legos.

Materials and Prep

• Legos (various shapes and sizes)
• Large flat surface (table or floor)
• Printed pictures of different geometric shapes (optional)

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Introduction to Shapes: Show the student pictures of different geometric shapes and ask them to identify each shape. Then, encourage them to build those shapes using Legos.
2. Sorting by Attributes: Give the student a pile of Legos and ask them to sort them based on their attributes (e.g., color, size, shape). Discuss the different ways they can sort the Legos and encourage them to explain their choices.
3. Building with Shapes: Challenge the student to build different objects using specific geometric shapes. For example, ask them to build a house using rectangular Legos or a car using circular Legos. This activity will help them understand how shapes can be combined to create more complex structures.
4. Pattern Creation: Introduce the concept of patterns by creating simple patterns using Legos. Start with basic AB patterns (e.g., red, blue, red, blue) and then encourage the student to create their own patterns using different colors and shapes.
5. Counting and Measuring: Use Legos to practice counting and measuring. Ask the student to count the number of Legos used in a structure or compare the lengths of different Lego pieces.

Preschool Grade Talking Points

• "Shapes are all around us! We can find shapes in objects like houses, cars, and even Legos."
• "Legos come in different colors, sizes, and shapes. We can sort them based on these attributes."
• "Shapes can be combined to build many things. We can use rectangles to build houses and circles to build wheels for cars."
• "Patterns are arrangements that repeat. We can create patterns using different colors and shapes of Legos."
• "We can count how many Legos we have and compare their lengths to learn about numbers and measurements."