Lego Math

I love finding great ideas on Pinterest to use in the classroom.

I just discovered this fabulous website called Boy Mama Teacher Mama: a site dedicated to raising boys and so much more.  And on it I found this amazing strategy to use Legos for teaching so many different math concepts. 

 

One of my favorite ideas she wrote about was to assign a monetary value to select Lego pieces.  Then challenge students to create specific structures using the least amount of money possible.  There are so many variations with this idea, so many other ways to challenge your class:

• Try to build a structure with a smaller monetary value than your first one.
• Try making a structure with a larger monetary value than your first one.
• Pick a specific amount of money and have students build a structure that adds up to that exact amount.
• Give each student a ten dollar "Lego Buck" and tell everyone to buy what they need and and then figure out the change.
   

Happy building!

Where I Need To Be

Think Math

Open-ended math questions like this are a terrific way to get kids stretching their minds.

Thanks, Mrs. Jump's Class, for this great activity.

Paint Cups

This is one of those ideas that as soon as I saw it I just couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it already.  What an amazing way to reuse Starbucks Frappacino cups!

Thanks, Muffin Tin Mom, for this great idea!

Renew Anew

Rainbow Popsicles

My kids and I were so excited when we found this recipe on-line, and we cannot wait to make them!

The recipe itself calls for pouring the first color juice into a dixie cup, letting it freeze/set for thirty minutes, then following up with the second color juice, repeating for each layer.  Looking at that picture makes me totally want to do some experiments with the kids on liquid density.  I wonder if adding simple syrup to juice would make it more dense, which would make it sink to the bottom.  Hmmm....I'll have to try it a little bit on my own first to see if adding anything to juice would increase its density.  If it does, I'll propose the experiment with the kids and see what hypotheses they come up with. 

It's never too early to teach the scientific method!

Thank you, Babble, for this recipe!





Math Sorting Game


If you told most kids that they needed to practice their math facts, they would probably begin whining and complaining.

"But I don't WANT to practice my math facts!"

I am a firm believer that learning should be fun, so I love finding games to "play" with a child.  The child just thinks he or she is playing a great game, but actual learning is taking place!

Thank you, Reading Corner, for this great math game.