Playing with lego is fun and these large ones are great for developing toddler’s fine motor and gross motor skills as they learn.

Today I demonstrate how to use lego to teach Maths. Before starting I sort the lego pieces into size and colour. This makes it easy to see what I have, and get to know the dimensions of each piece. We can use these pieces to compare, count and measure.

By familiarising themselves with the dimensions, children can build and design different structures. They compare lengths, add and subtract, and count on. They estimate and test which pieces may or may not fit. Using knowledge such as symmetry they can build stronger structures. They learn about fractions, exploring halves. They count. The skills are endless as they enjoy creating!

Children learn to control their movements, hand-eye coordination, visual perception, and other skills needed for building. They practice crossing the midline, pincer needed for writing, gross motor and fine motor skills. Thinking skills, problem solving skills, imagining, planning, preparing, visualising, and sorting.

The many skills that lego teaches!

Sorting, counting, comparing lengths, comparative language, colours, size, construction, adding and subtracting, making a strong base and building, exploring change, shapes, less and more, perspective, visualisation, hand-eye coordination, hand strength, concentration, and pincer finger hold (this is what’s needed to hold a pencil later on).

Am I missing anything else?

As a Montessori trained teacher I used Montessori principles in this play based lesson. For toddlers, I model doing it and at any time the child can take over. Older students can play side by side creating their own designs.

Avoid going to pencil and paper. If you need a record of the child’s work, take photos or a video. Tablets are a great way to do this then when the child is ready he/she could create a video to illustrate his/her own learning.

Written extensions include tracing the lego or drawing the pieces. Include a ruler and/or draw on graphed paper. Or blank paper with a free hand. Create the addition concepts, make the shapes and colour the patterns. Keep it open ended and this will serve itself as a an activity appropriate for different levels.

Keep it fun.

Translate this over to using blocks and other types of construction material.

If you do try This, I’d love to hear how you went with it. Leave a comment below. Thanks!