No Frills MATHs Skills for Parents 4: FRACTIONS for Beginners

Here is a post on Lego Fractions by New York Grade 3 teacher Alycia Zimmerman. Surprisingly I found this on an art website.

Just play with the Lego blocks. Add and subtract … you can even multiply and divide.

Next time.

The Lego Olympics 2020

Awesome Lego Maths and a Giant Lego Tree

You may not want Lego brick blossoms falling on your head,

but the Giant Lego Cherry Blossom tree has some awesome maths

to explore. See the tree built in fast forward below.

Maths isn’t TOO HARD; it’s TOO BORING, Sir!

Hello my little Peeps,

In 2012 The New York Times ran an article by Andrew Hacker titled ‘Is Algebra Necessary?’ The argument was, basically, that too many students find algebra difficult and colleges in America use math results to screen students thus further disadvanting already disadvantaged students. The author had a point. eg. Of all who embark on higher education, only 58 percent end up with bachelor’s degrees. The main impediment to graduation: freshman math.

Perhaps, algebra could be taught in a different way. Mathspig was inspired by New York Grade 3 teacher, Alycia Zimmerman, who uses Lego to teach fractions (See next post) and came up with the following examples.

Lego Mean, Median and Mode

Lego Algebra

But Mathspig has always lerved Lego Maths. Here are just a few examples;

Ratios: Lego Olympics

Ratios: The Rosetta Project Scaled down to a Lego Universe

Other links to Lego Maths.

And while you are doing your Lego Maths you an also use the Lego Template to design your own Lego Figurine.

Download Template here.

Have fun peeps.

Cheerio

Mathspig

 

Lego Fractions

Here is a post on Lego Fractions by New York Grade 3 teacher Alycia Zimmerman. Surprisingly I found this on an art website.

Mathspig found this Lego Maths so much fun she thought she’d try some more. Here is the result:

Lego Mean, Median and Mode

Lego Algebra

Lego Mean, Median, Mode

Students can calculate the Mean, Median and Mode using Lego. Here is the exciting part:

The lego stacks become the graph

START with 40 LEGO BRICKS

Draw a graph of No. of Blocks Vs No. of Prongs (per block) Make sure all blocks are the same height.

Start with 40 bricks.

Sort into Stacks to create graph of

 No. Prongs Vs No. Bricks

This is a close up of the stacks above.

The no. of bricks in each stack is written on top of the stack.

 

Lego Algebra

This Lego Algebra is designed as s a demonstration, rather than a student activity.

Let x = no. of Lego Bricks.

Now find x:

 

 

Don’t forget there is a lot of algebra fun on Mathspig with Algee Baa: Algebra for Beginners

Lego Mania 1: Going Loopy

As part of our Mid-year/ End of year madness here are some crazy things to do with Lego.

The idea with these projects is to challenge you, my pretties, by giving you  the Lego, the time and the inspiration so you can go, go, go for it and, maybe even, surprise yourself.

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1. Going  Loopy

Can you make something round from oblong Lego blocks?

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You will find more awesome Lego Loops at Discovery News and more cool curves and loops @ Sanders Brick Bending Blog

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2. Going Bloomin’ Crazy

Lego constructions can move. Here is The Blossoming Lotus built by the Brickengineer. If you click on this link you can see the Lotus blossom. Cool! Can you make a Lego flower bloom, mathspigs?

But if you really want to see some Lego flowers bloomin’ get yourself down to the Reiman Gardens @ Iowa State University. They have the Lego flowers, the Lego birds, the Lego butterflies, a Lego Zoo. Perhaps, mathspigs, your class could put your heads together and make a Lego garden or a Lego Zoo.

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3. Going Square

Lego artist Nathan Sawaya’s Lego sculptures are mind boggling. You can find the following sculptures @ sayhi-todesign blog spotto or @ Nathan’s own blog, The Art of the Brick. Maybe, mathspigs, you could build a geometric sculpture out of Lego blocks.

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Or get inspired by Nathan Sawaya’s other sculptures

Wow! That’s just how Mathspig feels when I’m waking up in the morning.

Lego Mania 2: Going Musical

Another way to get your brain wrapped around the idea of symmetry, 2D patterns and 3D image rotations is by building a musical instrument and some of them even play music, um, sort of!

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1. Lego Harpsichord built by a kid

with ordinary Lego that works!!!

2. Lego Electric Guitar that really works

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 3. Lego Flute that works

They say it works. Mathspig hasn’t heard it. The kid could be just spending time blowing on a Lego block.

More @ Izakoo Blog Spot

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4. Lego Cello

Here is another art work by Lego artist Nathan Sawaya. The cello doesn’t play music, but this is such an awesome video of Nathan building the cello, it is a MUST see, mathspigs.

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5. Lego Guitar

This one is by Patrick Dube

It doesn’t play music, but think about it mathspigs. It would look soooooo cool sitting in your bedroom. Besides, many a guitar sits in a bedroom without being played.

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6. Lego Saxaphone

Here is another work by Pat Dube. It doesn’t play music but it’s just cool, man. Put on those sunglasses, feel the vibe and chill.

Lego Mania 3: Going, Going, Gone!

Now mathspigs, let’s get mobile.  There is a lot of symmetry and 3D rotations involved in building a Lego ca. You can go low -tech or high tech. Get ready mathspigs here we go:

1. Lego Balloon Car

 I don’t think you’ll need instructions for this one. Maybe you could pimp that ride, mathspigs.

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2. Lego Rubber Band Car

You will find instructions @ eHow     

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3. Cool Lego VW

Ramping up the challenge, how about building a Lego street car.

If you have a Lego Car Kit you can make a really cool VW and a cool video clip as well:

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4. Lego Street View Car 

If you are the ultimate geek then this is the Lego car project for you. It could take years, mathspigs, but worth the sweat.

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5. Lego Bike

Or just get on your Lego bike.

Sean Kenney is a Lego Artist. You can find more images @ incredible things and more amazing Lego art works @ Sean Kenney’s own website.

More amaaaaazing machines @ Lego Education UK