Free Printable LEGO Addition Mat for Greater Than/Less Than

Learning Greater Than/Less Than Activities

MATH ACTIVITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN

KINDERGARTEN ADDITION ACTIVITIES ARE MORE BENEFICIAL WHEN THEY ARE HANDS-ON ADDITION ACTIVITIES! YOUR KIDS WILL FEEL LIKE KINDERGARTEN MATH IS ALL ABOUT PLAY!

One of the reasons I LOVE these Lego mats (there are many), is the visual representation of math addition up to 20. As kids build each digit, they can SEE which sum is larger/smaller.

Once they have build a Lego tower for each number and compared the sums, they can begin to practice math vocabulary: greater than/less than, sum, larger/smaller, most/least, etc. There are many ways to say the same thing!

As your child works with each addition equation on the Lego math activity, encourage conversation that sharpens math skills, number sense and vocabulary:

• Is 2+9 the same as 9+2? Why? How can you show that with Legos?
• Which sum is larger? How do you know just by looking at the Legos?
• Why is it easier to use the same color for each digit?
• What is the opposite of addition/subtraction?

What Can Children Learn While Building Numbers With Legos?

LEGO MATH WORKSHEETS AND GAMES

HANDS-ON NUMBER BUILDING FAR OUT-BENEFITS KINDERGARTEN ADDITION WORKSHEETS. KIDS NEED TO SEE QUANTITIES VISUALLY TO FORM SOLID NUMBER SENSE.

Here are some other math concepts covered with this addition game:

• Addition
• Comparisons
• Visual representations
• Addition strategies

Why Is It Important For Kids To Learn Basic Math Facts?

Fluency and automaticity with basic facts provides a solid foundation for students, making them ready for more complex tasks.

Build Number Sense

Playing math games improves number sense which is the ability to understand, compare/contrast, count, skip count, and relate numbers to each other.

Automaticity for Math Facts

When children effortlessly (automatically) know basic math facts, it makes more complex computations easier.

Learn Math Vocabulary

Encouraging kids to use math vocabulary while playing games (sum/difference/total/greater than/less than)is a meaningful way to practice.

Practice Cooperative Learning Skills

Simple games with partners or small groups give kids a lot of practice with social skills, like taking turns, following rules, and winning/losing.

How to Make This Lego Addition Mat for Greater Than/Less Than

To Prep:

Print and laminate all the pages. Laminating the recording page is optional, but it will allow you to use it multiple times without printing extra copies. (These are our favorite go-to laminating pouches).

Cut apart the addition fact cards & the math symbols (greater than, less than, equal to).

Put the LEGO bricks in a small tray (so they don’t fall all over the place, of course.)

To Play:

Put the addition fact cards in a pile. Choose two and place them on the large rectangles of the LEGO addition mat.

Then have the student build each problem using the LEGO bricks. Using the bricks adds a bit of fine-motor practice to the activity which is important for developing good handwriting skills.

We found that it was helpful to do each number of the addition problem in a unique color, so that we could visualize the problem.

Next:

Then, after solving both problems, the kids can hold the “sums” side by side to determine which is greater than, less than or equal to.

Finally:

Students will write their answers on the recording sheet. You could have them take some pictures with an iPad for easy assessment.

Use a laminated recording sheet for repeated use.

Extend the Activity

Change It Up

Don’t have a ton of Legos? Use pom poms or connecting cubes to compare quantities with the Lego mat or any other kindergarten math worksheet for addition.

Slide Rule

Make a slide rule with pipe cleaners and beads for each math fact. Kids can slide one color bead onto the top, a different color on the bottom, then slide them together to find the sum.

Talk About It

Any math addition to 20 worksheet or game will be more valuable if you encourage talking: say the fact, say the sum, say it backwards, make it into a subtraction problem, etc.

More Addition Activities:

• Marshmallow Cereal Addition Mats
• Garden Theme Adding Money Activity
• Ladybug Adding to 10 Activity

More LEGO Activities You’ll Love:

• LEGO DUPLO Geoboard
• Educational Playtime with Duplo – Sorting, Estimating and Building
• LEGO DUPLO Sight Word Towers 
• Slippery LEGO DUPLO Fine Motor Practice
• Hands-on Science: Creating a Water Cycle Project using LEGO
• LEGO Tower Subtraction Race
• LEGO Heart Marble Maze
• How To Create A DUPLO Block Painting
• Letter Sequencing with LEGO DUPLO 
• LEGO ordering, days of the week
• LEGO Math Ten Frame Games
• Color Sorting LEGO DUPLO