Classifying LEGO Free Printable Diagrams

We have had so much fun learning with LEGO® this week! (We’re not done, so keep watching for more ideas!) Today, the early elementary blogging team is sharing some awesome educational uses for LEGO. We worked on classifying LEGO with these free printable diagrams. It was great introduction to the classification of the animal kingdom that we have been learning about in our Zoology studies.

To prep: Print and laminate the diagram pages.

Trust me when I say that explaining scientific terms is not my strong point. I’m very thankful for the good curricula that we have selected to walk us through the different topics.

However, this week we’ve been learning about classifying the animal kingdom in our Zoology books for 2nd and 6th grades. My 2nd grader needed something tangible to introduce her to the topic of classification, so I created these free Classifying LEGO free printables for her.

There are two different types of classification pages that we used. A category map and a Venn Diagram.

We started with the category map because it’s the most familiar type of classification system. You select one variable and sort the items according to that variable. We choose between colors for the first time.

Then, a bit more of a challenge for her to understand, we sorted by size. This was confusing at first for her, but she quickly realized that it was a similar concept to sorting by color (which we usually introduce kids to in preschool).

I think it was a bit of visual confusion because of all the colors.

Then we pulled out the Venn Diagram. I included a sample version that you can use to introduce the concept of a Venn Diagram if you or your children are not familiar with them.

With a simple Venn Diagram you sort two types of objects that have one characteristic in common. (You could have a more complex version with different overlaps.)

We categorized one circle as having 4×2 rectangle bricks. And the other circle as having black bricks.

The overlap in the middle shows the bricks which were both 4×2 rectangles and black.

Then we tried another set.

One circle with yellow bricks and one circle with square 2×2 bricks. The overlap shows the bricks that were yellow squares.

Since there are so many types of LEGO, the choices for this are endless. You can definitely use it to master the idea of classifying objects without duplicating sets.

• LEGO number line for Addition and Subtraction from In The Playroom
• Hands-On Synonym Blocks Matching Game from Raising Little Superhereos
• Spelling With LEGOS! from Preschool Powol Packets
• Using LEGO to find Syllables from Rainy Day Mum
• Area and Perimeter with Lego Duplos from School Time Snippets
• Plural Nouns with LEGO from Still Playing School
• How to do an Lego Engineering Project for Kindergarten, First, or Second Grade from Thriving STEM
• Estimating and Probability with LEGO from Planet Smarty Pants
• Lego Bar Graphs for First Grade from Look We’re Learning
• Exploring Symmetry with a Lego Firefly from Crafty Kids at Home
• Pick Two: A Fun LEGO Math Game from Creative Family Fun