Legos Unlocked: 15 Ways to Use Legos to Teach Math and Language Arts

Legos are great toys and one of the most creative tools that children can use.  Since children love them so much, they make for excellent Math and Language Arts manipulatives. For parents looking to offer new challenges to keep their kids learning, Legos are a fun medium to test both the parents’ and child’s creativity.

 

Addition – Write out simple addition equations on a piece of paper.  Leave enough space for your child to match the number of pegs on each block with the written number.  Or you could reverse it, place the pegs on the table and ask your child to write out the numbers that match the pegs.

Subtraction – Place one Lego that has fewer pegs on top of another that has more to reveal subtraction concepts.  For example, a 12-peg Lego beneath an 8-peg Lego of the same color that is being subtracted, helps children to put quantities into groups.

Recognizing Patterns – Choose two or three different colors, and have your child create various pattern types.  Or create the pattern yourself and have your child to determine what the pattern is.

 

Comparing Numbers – Stack up blocks next to each other, and ask your child which one contains more.  Then demonstrate how the greater than/less than symbol indicates the amount as well.

 

Measuring – Take any toy that your child likes and use Legos to measure them.  Then ask how many Legos long is your toy?

Making Perfect Squares – Line up Legos so that they form multiplication arrays that display perfect squares.  For example, 2 x 2 is 4.  Then have your child to count the pegs represented in the answer.

 

Multiplication and Division – Use larger Legos or Duplos to show groups.  Three groups of eight make twenty four. Then write out the equation, 3 x 8 = 24.  You could also write out 8 + 8 + 8 = 24, to show that multiplication is repeated addition.

 Counting and Number Matching – This next one works better on bigger blocks, like Lego Duplos.  I used a small dry erase marker to write on the blocks.  They erase well with the wipe of a tissue.  Separate the blocks, write the numbers on them, then have your child to match them up.  This will help them learn to relate the cardinal number to the written number, and to the quantity – represented in the dots.

 

Putting the Alphabet in Order – Mix up blocks and spread them out, then have your child to put them in order.  Make this activity more fun by having your child sing the alphabet song while playing the game, or race against a timer.

Making Letters – Work with your child to creatively form as many letters as you can with the blocks.

Sentence Structure – Write a simple sentence, like the one below.  Mix up all the words, and have your child to place them in order, to form a complete sentence.

Prefixes – Write the prefix on the smaller block, and the root word on the larger block to demonstrate how the prefix changes the word.

Suffixes – Write the suffix on the smaller block, and the root word on the larger block to demonstrate how the suffix changes the word.

 Subject & Predicate – Write a basic sentence and then choose two large blocks on which to write ‘subject’ and ‘predicate.’ You can do this with nouns and verbs, or if your child is more advanced, use subjects and predicates.  But use the larger blocks to label the parts of the sentence, and smaller blocks to write the words.

Word Families/Rhyming Words – Use one similar color to write a list of rhyming words.  Point out the spelling of these words and point out how they are similar in sound and spelling.  Use the blocks to group them together.

25 Ways To Stimulate A Child's Imagination

Using your imagination and being creative is a major part of life.  People who are creative are not only those in the arts, but those who can problem solve and create solutions to major problems.  In my experience teaching young people in middle and high school, I have witnessed many students who unfortunately have lost their sense of imagination and have limited their own creative abilities.  

Children are very creative when they are young, but somewhere along the way we have put children into boxes and by the time they are ready to graduate from the public school system they are able to pass a standardized test, but have trouble problem solving and using their imagination.  In the day to day hustle of our lives, let us not forget the importance of the imagination.
Below are 25 ways you can stimulate your imagination. They are not only for children, these can apply to the parent as well.  :)

1. Tell oral stories have your child close his eyes and imagine.
2. When reading a book to your children, stop halfway and ask her how she imagines the rest of the story.
3. Have your child “read” books that have only pictures but no text.  Have your child tell you what’s going on in the story and provide alternative interpretations for each picture.

4. Have fun with painting.  Do not instruct your child on how to paint, let her use her imagination trying, testing and, making mistakes.  This is part of the creative process.  Mix colors, try new textures.

5. Create characters with playdough.

6. Create things with Legos.  Dont give your child a mission, but simply ask your child, what are you crating today?
7. Create sock puppets and make a puppet theater creating characters, voices, and story-lines.
8. Make shadow puppets and create a storyline.
9. Dramatic role play, pretend to be an animal, an astronaut, or a tree.
10. Invent a song, pick up or create your own musical instruments and encourage your child to create new lyrics and melodies.  
11. Ask your child to create a new language and speak it with him.
12. Take a walk in a park and pick up objects to use in a project or make up a story on the way back home?
13. Upcycle, ask your child how you can reuse old corks, baby wipe boxes, plastic plates or cardboard.
14. Play dress up.
15. Connect with nature.
16. Do lots of science experiments.
17. Take a bed sheet and talk about all the things it can become, ie) a tent, a cape, etc.
18. Allow your child to get BORED.  If your child complains of boredom, do not be quick to offer a solution, allow them to come up with their own.
19. Be silly with your child.  Often times the key to being creative is letting go of stuffiness.
20. Model creativity, children become their parents in so many ways.
21. When coming up with a solution to a problem, do not always insist on the correct answer, but encourage your child to have many ideas about a potential solution.
22. Be patient in conversations with your child, do not cut him or her  off when answering  a question.  Allow your child time to complete his or her thoughts even if it takes a while.  Giving your child your full attention will boost his or her self esteem, thus providing more space for creativity.
23. Be spontaneous and encourage your child to do the same.  
24. Allow for unstructured playtime.
25. Openly praise and encourage your child when he or she initiates creative activities like exploration or providing out of the box ideas or solutions.  

What do you do to stimulate your child's imagination?

7 Fun Toddler Activities that Develop Fine Motor Skills

Writing, tying shoes and using scissors; these are all skills that require fine motor skills -- movements that make use of small muscles in the body, like those in the fingers, thumbs and wrists.  Children already exercise these muscles in their every day activities but you can give them some extra practice with these fun and simple activities.

Here are some hands on ways for your toddler or pre-schooler to develop fine motor skills:

1. Playing with Play Dough

Whether you make your own, or purchase it from the store, play dough is probably one of the most engaging activities for toddlers to build up strength in their tiny hand muscles.  Rolling the dough into a ball, poking into the the dough, patting it like a pancake, twisting it and squishing it are all muscle and tendon strengthening activities.

2. Peeling Fruit
We love clementines, particularly the popular brand Cuties, because they are so small and easy to peel for little hands.  After your little one has peeled all the skin off they can separate all the wedges and enjoy a healthy seedless snack.

3. Clothespins and Cotton Balls
Clothespins are great tools to develop finger muscles because of the resistance they provide.  Have your child try to pick up cotton balls with the clothespins and then have him or her place them in a bowl or box.  If you want to add a challenge you can time them and/or have them count as they pick up the cotton.  You can also use tongs instead of clothespins for a similar effect.

4. Pasta in Colander
I was surprised my little girl was so engaged with this activity.  It’s very simple, just have your child place pasta noodles into the holes of a colander.  The holes are small so the movement and placement need to be precise.  For a younger child you can use an empty Parmesan cheese container, since it has larger holes.
 

5. Pom Pom Water Bottle
Filling up a small water bottle is another great way for small toddlers to use the pincer grasp.  You can add another challenge by having your child sort the different color pom poms in various  bottles or label the bottles with numbers and have them place 3 pom poms in one bottle and 5 pom poms in another.   This activity can also be done with beans, cereal or uncooked popcorn as long as your toddler is past the stage of putting things in his or her mouth.

6. Stickers
I have not yet met a child who does not love stickers!  The simple motion of pinching and peeling off a sticker is a great way to enhance fine motor development.  Have your child decorate a book cover or a card with lots cute stickers.  Pay close attention to the way they bed and peel the paper in order to get the stickers off.  Help them to take their time if they tear the stickers in the process.

7. Painting
Both finger painting and painting with a brush are excellent fine motor activities that require the use of hand-eye coordination.   When using a brush your child will practice the pincer grip, also the act of dipping the brush in the paint and water is great exercise.  Finger painting is also good exercise and requires that the child use his or her hand, wrist and fingers to create a beautiful image on the paper or canvas.   Also try painting with non- traditional materials like Q-tips, cotton balls or sponges.  Your child will love using everyday object to spark his or her creativity.

There are just a few of the activities that can help toddlers develop fine motor skills. Always remember to have your child help clean up any mess, because it can further strengthen fine motor skills and reinforce attention to detail.

What activities would you add to this list? Share in the comments below :)