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LEGO Subtraction Game for Kindergarten

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Learning subtraction can be tricky and take lots of practice to master. But working on subtraction can also be fun, and I love having super simple math games on hand to teach it! So let’s turn those toys into fun learning manipulatives with this creative, hands-on LEGO® Subtraction Game for Kindergarten! It is one your students will love and you will definitely want in your bag of tricks!

*Pair with our Subtraction Centers and Activities for Pre-K & Kindergarten!

Turn LEGOs into fun learning manipulatives while working on subtraction with this creative, hands-on LEGO Subtraction Game for Kindergarten!

LEGO® Subtraction Game for Kindergarten

Strengthen subtraction skills in a super fun way with this engaging and effective subtraction game for Kindergarten! LEGO® pieces can be used for so much more than just building (which is also an important and creative skill). I just knew that with the simple twist of adding plastic building blocks, my students would be thrilled to start subtracting. I love this game because of its simplicity!

The only supplies you need are:

  • LEGO® pieces
  • Dice
For this subtraction game, all you need is legos and some dice.

How to Play

This subtraction game is best played with a partner, although you could play it with a small group of students too, as the object of the game is to see who can get rid of all of their blocks first!

Depending on the level of your child or students, you can use any number of blocks. With my Kindergarteners I started with 10 blocks each, as our focus is subtraction within 10.

First, stack up your tower of 10. Then, roll the dice. Take off that number of blocks, and then count how many you have left. I give each of my students a small basket to place their pieces when they have been removed to help us stay organized.

I give each of my students a small plastic basket to place their lego pieces when they have been removed to help us stay organized.

After each student’s turn, we practice saying the equation out loud. For example, “I had 10 bricks. I took off 2, and now I have 8.” You could even have them write equations for each roll to extend the learning!

Keep rolling and removing blocks until there are none left. The first person to unstack them all is the winner!

More LEGO® Learning Fun

Ready for some more super fun learning activities? Check out these amazing ideas from some fabulous kid bloggers.

20+ Lego activities
  • LEGO Addition Mat for Greater Than/Less Than from Life Over C’s
  • Duplo Lego Geoboard from Still Playing School
  • Duplo Consonant Blends Activity from Learning 2 Walk
  • Educational Playtime with Duplo – Sorting, Estimating and Building from Crafty Mama in ME
  • LEGO DUPLO Sight Word Towers from Powerful Mothering
  • Slippery Lego Duplo Fine Motor Practice from Best Toys 4 Toddlers
  • Penguin Ice Cube Counting With LEGO from Preschool Powol Packets
  • Word Building with LEGOS from Sugar Aunts
  • Hands-on Science: Creating a Water Cycle Project using LEGO from Edventures with Kids
  • Lego Tower Subtraction Race from The Kindergarten Connection
  • Lego: 5 reasons you should use it with your kids from The Usual Mayhem
  • Dumping Lego Colour Match Activity from Teach me Mommy
  • Lego Heart Marble Maze from Lemon Lime Adventures
  • Feed the Duplo Alien from Adventures of Adam
  • How To Create A Duplo Block Painting from Raising Little Superheroes
  • Letter Sequencing with Lego Duplo from School Time Snippets
  • Lego ordering, days of the week from In The Playroom
  • Dental Flossing with Duplo from Sugar, Spice and Glitter
  • LEGO Math Ten Frame Games from Lalymom

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Alex
Alex
Founder at The Kindergarten Connection
Alex is a Transitional Kindergarten teacher with a passion for making learning fun and engaging. She's earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and Masters Degrees in Special Education and Curriculum Design. Alex is a former night owl turned early bird and playful learning enthusiast. Alex lives with her husband and their beloved and high-energy cat, Fitz.
Alex
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary

    May 20, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    What a great idea. I’m always looking for hands on activities for learning. I’ve gotten really good things from you. Thanks

    Reply
  2. Jaime

    February 26, 2016 at 6:48 am

    I love this activity! Quick question — When it gets to the end of the game, how do you handle it if they roll a bigger number than the amount of legos they have left? Ex. 3 legos left but the roll a 6 so they can’t take 6 away. Do they skip their turn?

    Reply
    • Alex

      March 2, 2016 at 11:45 pm

      Hi Jamie! So sorry for the slower response to this – That is a fabulous question!
      Yes, if they roll a number bigger than what they have left, they skip their turn. This gives the game an interesting twist because the object is to lose all of your tower first, but it really make it tricky as you get less legos! 🙂 I like how that really solidifies the idea for them though that the beginning number must be larger in order to successfully make a subtraction equation.
      Hope that makes sense and that your kids love the game!

      Reply
      • Danielle @ Backyard Zest

        June 16, 2016 at 3:08 pm

        I like that twist to the game so at the end there is they excitement of trying to get the right dice roll 🙂

        Reply
  3. Shannon

    January 12, 2016 at 4:02 pm

    What a simple but fun learning activity!

    Reply
  4. Adventures of Adam

    January 12, 2016 at 11:55 am

    Isn’t it amazing what fun you can have with some bricks and a dice!

    Reply
  5. Kristina @ School Time Snippets

    January 12, 2016 at 9:41 am

    LOVE simple games that are fun and educational!

    Reply
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Through the Print and Play Club, her Instagram community, and easy prep classroom resources, Alex shares her love of resources and activities that promote playful learning with other Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers around the world.

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