This is one of those kids math games that can be played in the summer when we are thinking about the beach or as part of an ocean unit. Creating bar graphs with LEGOS is something we like to do. We have great a floor graph with tape and LEGOS. We have even created a graphing tool with LEGO and graphed with LEGO. For this kids math game we used a paper graph with ocean animals displayed on it, printable ocean animal cards, and LEGO. I want to make it more portable than the other kids math games.
Setting Up the Graphing with LEGOS Activity
You will need to print out Ocean Graphing with Blocks packet to start with. It contains the bar graph and the ocean animal cards. We printed out two pages of the ocean animal cards. It gave us more of a chance to graph more than two of each animals.
Then you will need to cut out the ocean animal cards. We just used scissors because that is what we had a home.
We placed all the ocean animal cards in a large mailing envelope. I wanted there to be enough room in the envelope to move your hand from top to bottom and side to side.
Graphing with LEGOS
Without looking into the envelope we picked 10 cards out. These became the cards we used to create the bar graph.
Next we decided what color LEGOS would represent each of the animals. You could decide this ahead of time for your children and just have eight of each of the colors available in a bowl.
Finally we placed the number of LEGO above each ocean creature that matched the number of cards we had selected. If you have young children, you will want to help them count out the correct number of LEGO and arrange them on the bar graph.
Kids Math Games with the Graph
This activity can end with creating the bar graph, but it doesn’t need to. I played a few kids math games with our graph.
Adding Animals
I asked my son to tell me what the sum of the starfish and the squid was. If you have younger children, you might phrase the question in more simple terms. You could say, ” How many starfish are there? How may squid are there? How many starfish and squid are there?” You can have your children touch each of the LEGOS above those animals as they count.
More or Less
I asked my son to tell me what two animals combined would be more than the number of shells. If you have younger children, you could ask them what animal has more blocks than the squid and which has less. You could make it simpler by asking which has the most and which has the least.
This post is part of a cooperative celebration of LEGO being hosted by Toddler Approved.
