Working on subtraction can be fun, and I love having super simple games on hand to teach it! Just like our counting bear addition cards, This subtraction LEGO® game is one you will definitely want in your bag of tricks!
Supplies Needed
I love this game because of its simplicity! All you need are:
Depending on the level your child or students are working on, you can use any number of blocks. With my kindergarteners I started with 10 blocks each, as our goal is subtraction within 10.
Playing the Subtraction LEGO® Game
This 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 lose all of their bricks first!
First, stack up your tower. Then, roll the dice.
Take off that number of bricks, and then count how many you have left. I work with my students on saying either the equation or talking through the math language. 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 bricks until there are none left. The first person to unstack them all is the winner!
Play again, or increase the number for a longer game!
For even more subtraction practice, grab our:
Subtraction Printables Bundle and
Roll and Color Math Games for the Year!
More LEGO® Learning Fun!
Ready for some more super fun learning activities? Check out these amazing ideas from some fabulous kid bloggers.
- 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
- Geometric Blueprints with LEGO from Handmade Kids Art
- 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
- Lego Heart Marble Maze from Lemon Lime Adventures
- Dumping Lego Colour Match Activity from Teach me Mommy
- 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
Alex
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Kristina @ School Time Snippets says
January 12, 2016 at 9:41 amLOVE simple games that are fun and educational!
Adventures of Adam says
January 12, 2016 at 11:55 amIsn’t it amazing what fun you can have with some bricks and a dice!
Shannon says
January 12, 2016 at 4:02 pmWhat a simple but fun learning activity!
Jaime says
February 26, 2016 at 6:48 amI 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?
Alex says
March 2, 2016 at 11:45 pmHi 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!
Danielle @ Backyard Zest says
June 16, 2016 at 3:08 pmI like that twist to the game so at the end there is they excitement of trying to get the right dice roll 🙂
Mary says
May 20, 2019 at 10:27 pmWhat a great idea. I’m always looking for hands on activities for learning. I’ve gotten really good things from you. Thanks