Is there a kid alive who doesn’t love LEGOs? If so, we sure haven’t met them. These beloved building bricks make terrific tools in your classroom, and they’re especially great for teaching a variety of math concepts. We’ve put together this list of our favorite LEGO math ideas for every skill level. Your students are going to love them!
1. Learn your numbers.
Start simple with these free printable LEGO math mats. Kids align the bricks as shown to make a numeral, then lay out the appropriate number of bricks below it.
Learn more: Life Over Cs
2. Race to 20 to practice counting on.
This activity is great for 2+ players. Write the numbers one to twenty (one number each) on the flat side of 20 LEGO (or DUPLO) bricks with wet-erase markers. Kids start with the brick labeled “1” and roll a die. They add the indicated number of bricks to their stack in the correct order, racing to see who can be the first to get to 20. You can expand this game to include as many bricks as you have available!
Learn more: Playdough to Plato/LEGO Game
3. Skip count with LEGO math (Method 1).
Use the same stack-and-count activity as above, but change the numbers to work on skip counting by 2, 5, 10, or whatever you’re currently working to master.
Learn more: The Joy-Filled Mom
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4. Skip count with LEGO math (Method 2).
Here’s another way LEGO math can be used to learn to skip count. Use the number of studs (the small raised circles) on each brick as markers while you count. It’s easy to find bricks with one, two, three, four, five, six, eight, and ten studs, so this works across a wide range.
Learn more: Royal Baloo
5. Build a LEGO number line.
Number lines have manyapplications in the classroom. The LEGO math version is extra fun since kids can use mini-figs to move back and forth along the line.
Learn more: In The Playroom
6. Create your own LEGO 10 frames.
Task your students with putting together a 10 frame using LEGOs. Then check out our roundup of terrific ten frame activities to put it to good use!
Learn more: Lalymom
7. Introduce place value with LEGO math.
Understanding place value is a vital skill, and LEGO math makes it a lot more fun. Get free printable mats to use at the link.
Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls/LEGO Math
8. Toss bricks for more place value practice.
Make a target from paper, labeling the rings with place values. Students (gently) toss a brick of their choice onto the target. Then they use the number of studs on each brick along with its place value to create a final number. Largest number wins!
9. Use LEGO math to practice addition facts.
These are so much more fun than traditional flashcards! Grab your free printable set at the link and use LEGO math to practice basic addition facts.
Learn more: Playdough to Plato/LEGO Math
10. Put together addition fact puzzles.
Think of this as a version of dominoes. Tape a math fact card to each brick. Kids look at the top number, then look to find the brick with the equation that has that sum as the answer. They continue on, stacking bricks as they go.
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
11. Roll a die to subtract bricks.
This is basically the opposite of Race to 20 (above). Start with a given number of bricks stacked into a tower. Roll a die and remove that number of bricks, stating the new number that remains. Players race to be the first to remove all their bricks. Make it more challenging by requiring the last roll to be the exact number needed to get to zero!
Learn more: The Kindergarten Connection
12. Work on addition with regrouping.
Regrouping (carrying numbers) can get a little tricky. Use LEGO math to make the concept clearer, along with the free printable mats at the link below.
Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls/Addition With Regrouping
13. Tell time with a LEGO clock.
This may be one of the coolest clock manipulatives we’ve ever seen! What a really creative way to practice telling time.
Learn more: Stir the Wonder
14. Compare numbers using LEGO math.
LEGO bricks are an engaging way to teach the concepts of greater than and less than. The hands-on visual can be really helpful for some students who struggle due to dyscalculia.
Learn more: Royal Baloo
15. Teach multiplication arrays with LEGO math.
Teaching multiplication using arrays is so easy with LEGO bricks! Use a single brick and count the studs across and down. You can also group multiple bricks together for larger arrays.
Learn more: Teaching With Jillian Starr
16. Multiply bricks for fact practice.
Students grab several bricks of the same type, then multiply the number of studs by the number of bricks. This kind of LEGO math sneaks in some subitizing practice too.
17. Visualize multiplication with LEGO brick stacks.
If your students are struggling with the concept of multiplication, this sort of visualization activity can be a real help. It brings the multiplication table into the 3-D world!
Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls/LEGO Brick Stacks
18. Try LEGO math story problems.
Forget imaginary apples and oranges. Use LEGO math for hands-on story problem practice. Get a set of free cards to print at the link.
Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands
19. Practice division facts.
This will work with any type of math facts, of course. Simply write numbers on bricks, along with the symbols you’re working on (division sign, equals sign, etc.). Then kids stack together the equations.
Learn more: The Joyfilled Mom
20. Fill a LEGO baseplate.
This LEGO math activity offers practice with a variety of skills. Roll the dice and announce the sum, then grab bricks with studs that match those numbers and fit them on your baseplate. First person to fill up their plate wins!
Learn more: Creative Family Fun
21. Bowl and build a bar graph.
LEGOs are perfect for building graphs. This activity makes it even more fun by adding a little tabletop bowling first!
Learn more: Inspiration Laboratories
22. Work on money skills.
This cool idea assigns a monetary value to various LEGO bricks. Kids then try to build structures using only the bricks that add up to a certain total. This one involves a lot of problem-solving and creative thinking!
Learn more: You’ve Got This Math
23. Tackle fractions with LEGO math.
Teaching the concept of fractions as a part of a whole is a breeze with LEGO bricks. Watch the video to see how it’s done.
24. Use LEGO bricks to represent fractions.
Here’s another way to represent fractions with LEGOs. Give kids a fraction, and ask them to use LEGOs to demonstrate it. (It’s also a great way to talk about opposite fractions.)
Learn more: JDaniel4’s Mom/LEGO Fractions
25. Put area and perimeter into practice.
The studs on LEGO bricks make it simple to find the perimeter and area. Start with individual bricks, then increase the challenge by throwing more bricks into the mix. There are a lot of fun options here.
26. Build a model room.
Ready for a bigger geometry challenge? Let kids design and build a model room full of furniture. Chart it out on graph paper first, then put it into practice.
Learn more: Line Upon Line Learning
27. Discuss mean, median, and more.
There are a variety of ways to use LEGO math with mean, median, mode, and range. Here’s one idea: Set a timer and have kids build the tallest tower they can before the time runs out. Then, they take their tower apart and classify their bricks by color. Using their data (ex: 19 red, 10 blue, etc.), they figure out the m, m, m, and r for their LEGO colors.
28. Map it out on a coordinate plane.
Gather up all your mini-figs and have some coordinate plane LEGO math fun! The link below has a variety of activities for this concept.
Learn more: iGameMom
29. Assemble polygons.
Give students a specified number of sides and vertices, and ask them to assemble a polygon that matches. You can also reverse this activity by showing them the shapes and having them name sides, vertices, angles, and so on.
Learn more: JDaniel4’s Mom/Polygons
30. Create cool LEGO patterns.
Each of these LEGO patterns represents an equation—for instance, the first is the multiplication-by-three table. Find out what the others are and learn how this activity works at the link. What patterns can your students create?
Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls/LEGO Patterns
If you love LEGOs as much as your students, learn about using LEGO MINDSTORMS in the classroom.
Hands-on math really brings the concepts home. Check out this list of 24 Teacher-Approved Ways to Use Math Manipulatives .
Do you have any other LEGO math activities? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
