Subtraction Stacks Up with Brick Math

When a child plays a game where they give some things and keep others, they are starting to learn subtraction. But when they begin to learn subtraction in school, it can be tricky. Building models of subtraction with LEGO® bricks is a great way to show students how subtraction works. The Brick Math: Teaching Math Using LEGO® Bricks program utilizes the bricks as a manipulative for demonstrating the action of the math. Rather than taking away items that are subtracted, the program shows subtraction by stacking bricks, so that what’s left can be easily counted and understood. And as you can imagine, students have fun learning with LEGO® bricks!
 
In Subtraction Using LEGO® Bricks, the hands-on activities using LEGO® bricks help students learn the concepts of:
• start unknown subtraction
• change unknown subtraction
• result unknown subtraction
• comparisons
• decomposing numbers and place value

Brick Math helps students learn subtraction through its integrated program. The teacher leads students through step-by-step lesson plans. Using the bricks, students create models of the math as they learn. They then draw the models they’ve created and explain how the models work. These different ways of interacting with the bricks lead to a deep understanding of subtraction.

Modeling subtraction with LEGO® bricks in the Brick Math curriculum gives students the chance to be creative while learning math. They quickly discover multiple solutions for problems rather than looking for only one right answer.

Using LEGO® bricks to learn math with Brick Math is fun—for the teacher AND the students!
 
Click here to see videos of lessons from Subtraction Using LEGO® Bricks—Teacher Edition.
 
Click here for a preview of the lesson, “What Does It Mean to Subtract?” from Subtraction Using LEGO® Bricks—Teacher Edition.
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