Engaging Math with LEGO® – Curriculum Map (Grades 3-4)
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Engaging Math with LEGO® – Curriculum Map (Grades 3-4)

Play-Based Math Curriculum

Teacher's Guide — International Enrichment Edition • Grades 3–4

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This page outlines the scope and sequence for Grades 3–4. Individual Brickit lessons will be provided separately.

🧭 Teaching Philosophy

“Engaging Math with Spare LEGO® Bricks” for Grades 3–4 bridges the transition from concrete exploration to abstract reasoning. Students use LEGO® models to represent, test, and explain mathematical ideas — turning hands-on activity into visible thinking.

Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract

LEGO® connects ideas to tangible models, supporting the CPA progression.

Collaborative Reasoning

Students verbalize strategies, justify solutions, and learn from peers.

Creative Math

Every model becomes a proof, not just an answer.

Growth Mindset

Experimentation and mistakes are integral to the learning process.

Teacher tip: Begin each topic with a short hands-on task before moving to representation and symbols.

📚 Course Overview

Course Type:Supplementary hands-on enrichment
Duration:35–40 lessons (1 per week)
Target Age:8–10 years (Grades 3–4)
Lesson Length:45–50 minutes
Group Size:2–4 students per team
Materials Needed:400–600 LEGO® bricks per team, Brickit App for Schools, baseplates, rulers, grid paper, tablets or cameras
Differentiation:Within each topic, Level A (basic) supports Grade 3; Level B (advanced) extends to Grade 4

🎯 Curriculum Units

1

Multiplication & Arrays

Focus: Repeated addition, equal groups, arrays

Students represent multiplication using visual models, exploring patterns and the commutative property.

6 Lessons:
  1. Equal Groups and Repeated Addition
  2. Building Arrays (2×–10×)
  3. Skip Counting Towers
  4. Commutative Property
  5. Multiplication Stories
  6. LEGO® Array Challenge

Teacher Comment: Connect arrays to the future concept of area (Unit 6).

Differentiation: Level A — up to 5×5; Level B — larger arrays and decomposition strategies.

2

Division & Sharing

Focus: Equal sharing, remainders, inverse operations

Students divide models evenly and explore relationships between multiplication and division.

5 Lessons:
  1. Sharing Equally
  2. Division as Repeated Subtraction
  3. Fact Families
  4. Remainders in Real Life
  5. LEGO® Bakery Challenge

Teacher Comment: Use realistic sharing contexts (people, tables, plates) to introduce remainders.

Differentiation: Level A — division without remainders; Level B — interpreting remainders in word problems.

3

Fractions & Decimals

Focus: Equivalent fractions, comparison, tenths and hundredths

Students connect equal parts to real models, exploring fraction equivalence and visual decimal representations.

6 Lessons:
  1. Equivalent Fractions
  2. Comparing Fractions
  3. Mixed Numbers with LEGO®
  4. Decimals as Fractions of a Whole
  5. Tenths and Hundredths
  6. Fair Share Café Challenge

Teacher Comment: Teach fractions through visible LEGO® plates before introducing decimal notation.

Differentiation: Level A — halves, thirds, quarters; Level B — 2/3 vs 3/5, linking to 0.3 = 3/10.

4

Place Value & Large Numbers

Focus: Thousands, expanded form, rounding

Students model 3- and 4-digit numbers, showing structure through stacks of 10, 100, and 1000.

5 Lessons:
  1. Base-10 Builds (Ones, Tens, Hundreds)
  2. Building Thousands
  3. Expanded Form Models
  4. Rounding Towers
  5. Comparing Large Numbers

Teacher Comment: Build “towers of tens” before symbolic work.

Differentiation: Level A — up to 1,000; Level B — up to 10,000, rounding to tens, hundreds, thousands.

5

Data, Graphs & Logical Thinking

Focus: Data collection, bar graphs, interpretation, logical reasoning

Students collect data from their builds and organize it visually to identify patterns.

4 Lessons:
  1. Sorting and Counting LEGO® Types
  2. Building Bar Graphs
  3. Reading and Interpreting Data
  4. Logic Puzzle Challenge

Teacher Comment: Introduce this unit after place value to connect numerical reasoning and data display.

Differentiation: Level A — simple bar charts; Level B — comparing sets, median/mode extension.

6

Area & Perimeter

Focus: Measurement, units, area of rectangles

Students measure builds in studs, discover area as repeated addition, and calculate L×W.

5 Lessons:
  1. Measuring in Studs
  2. Perimeter Models
  3. Building Area (Length × Width)
  4. Comparing Areas
  5. Design Your LEGO® Park Challenge

Teacher Comment: Reinforce connection between arrays and the area formula.

Differentiation: Level A — small rectangles; Level B — composite shapes and perimeter puzzles.

7

Geometry: Shapes, Angles & Symmetry

Focus: 2D/3D shapes, angles, rotation, symmetry

Students identify, build, and describe shapes using correct mathematical language.

5 Lessons:
  1. Building 2D Shapes
  2. Types of Angles
  3. Lines of Symmetry
  4. Rotational Patterns
  5. The LEGO® Architecture Challenge

Teacher Comment: Emphasize geometry vocabulary (vertex, edge, ray, line, right/acute/obtuse).

Differentiation: Level A — identifying properties; Level B — constructing with constraints and rotations.

🌍 Curriculum Alignment

Alignment to major international frameworks ensures portability across diverse educational contexts.

Concept Area Common Core (US) Cambridge Primary IB PYP Concept
Multiplication & Division 3.OA.A–3.OA.D N3.1–N3.5 “Operations show repeated relationships”
Fractions & Decimals 3.NF.A–4.NF.C N4.1–N4.5 “Parts and wholes describe proportion”
Place Value & Number Sense 3.NBT.A–4.NBT.A N3.2–N4.2 “Number systems build structure”
Measurement & Area 3.MD.A–3.MD.C M3.1–M4.3 “Measurement connects math to real world”
Geometry & Symmetry 3.G.A–4.G.A G3.1–G4.3 “Shapes represent space and pattern”
Data & Reasoning 3.MD.B–4.MD.B H3.1–H4.2 “Data helps us interpret the world”

Note: Decimals serve as Grade 4 extension; fractions remain core for both grades.

🧠 Skills Progression Map

This map shows how mathematical skills develop progressively across the seven units.

Skill Domain Unit Focus Observable Outcomes
Multiplication & Division Units 1–2 Builds and interprets arrays; connects to repeated addition
Fractions & Decimals Unit 3 Compares and models equivalence; links fractions to decimals
Place Value Unit 4 Builds and reads numbers ≤ 10,000; rounds accurately
Measurement & Area Unit 6 Measures in studs; calculates area/perimeter
Geometry Unit 7 Identifies angles and symmetry in 2D/3D models
Data Representation Unit 5 Collects, organizes, and interprets data
Reasoning & Communication All Units Explains strategies; uses precise math vocabulary
Collaboration & Reflection All Units Works in teams; gives constructive feedback

Teacher tip: Revisit earlier models when introducing new ideas to strengthen conceptual connections.

🧰 Teacher Toolkit

Materials Checklist

  • LEGO® bricks (400–600 per team)
  • Brickit App for Schools
  • Baseplates, rulers, grid paper
  • Markers, sticky notes
  • Tablets or cameras for photo portfolios

Group Setup

  • 4–6 teams of 2–4 students
  • Rotate roles weekly: Builder – Recorder – Presenter – Checker
  • Arrange tables for easy scanning and collaboration

Assessment Tools

  • Observation checklists (participation, accuracy, reasoning)
  • Peer feedback cards (“2 stars + 1 wish”)
  • Student journals and reflection prompts
  • Photo portfolios of builds with student comments

Mini Rubric for Open Tasks (4‑Point)

  • 4 – Model correct, reasoning clear, vocabulary precise
  • 3 – Model correct, reasoning partial
  • 2 – Idea present, model incomplete
  • 1 – Needs teacher support

Differentiation Strategies

  • Two levels (A/B) within each lesson
  • Scaffolded builds and visual aids
  • Extensions: limited resources, optimizing design, strategy comparison
See also: Digital & Data Pack • Green Education Kit