Learning with LEGO: How We Use Bricks in Our Homeschool
When we started homeschooling, I quickly realized that the best learning happens when it connects to something my kids already love. For us, that’s LEGO. These colorful bricks aren’t just toys in our house—they’re powerful learning tools that spark creativity, problem-solving, and even teamwork (and if you’re not so lucky, a painful barefoot surprise)! Let’s not leave all the fun to the kids either; unleash your inner child and see what you can create.
Math in Motion
From counting bricks to building symmetrical towers, LEGO has turned math into a hands-on adventure. We practice multiplication by grouping bricks, explore fractions by dividing builds into equal parts, and even dip into geometry by experimenting with angles and structures. Suddenly, abstract math concepts feel concrete and exciting. Try it: Grab a brick and turn it around in your hands, explore the possibilities- just looking at the top, you have an example of arrays (2x4 dots)!
Storytelling and Language Arts
LEGO creations often become the backdrop for imaginative stories. After building a castle or spaceship, we can write short stories or act out adventures with mini-figures. We practice spelling and vocabulary by labeling creations, or we snap a picture of a LEGO build or scenes to use in creative writing another day. This blend of play and writing keeps language arts fun and engaging. Try it: start simple, spell your name with bricks, or build a scene representing a new vocabulary word.
Science and Engineering
LEGO naturally encourages experimentation. We’ve built bridges to test strength, cars to explore motion, and towers to understand balance and stability. These little engineering projects open the door to conversations about physics, simple machines, and scientific inquiry. When a build collapses, it’s not failure—it’s a chance to redesign and try again. Try it: dump out a bin of LEGOs and see who can build the tallest tower (without falling).
Collaboration and Problem-Solving
One of my favorite parts of incorporating LEGO is watching my children collaborate. Working together on a shared design builds patience, communication skills, and the ability to compromise. If you are homeschooling multiple kids, you know we could all use more of that! These are life lessons disguised as play. Try it: come up with a build idea, and have one child start building, and the other child finish.
Want to incorporate LEGOs in your homeschool day?
Some ideas to seamlessly weave some build time into your daily rhythm:
Morning warm-up: a quick build challenge to get the creative juices flowing. Build the weather, your current mood, something in the room, your favorite animal, or a new invention.
Math time: using bricks for counting, fractions, or measurement. LEGO bricks are a great representation of arrays used in multiplication.
Afternoon project: designing something based on a history theme (like a famous battle or medieval village).
Writing block: turning their creations into stories or reports, or even a journal reflection on what they built and why.
By the end of the day, the kids don’t just feel like they played with toys—they know they’ve learned something meaningful.
LEGO has become one of the most versatile tools in our homeschool toolkit. It reminds us that learning doesn’t have to be separate from play—sometimes the best lessons are the ones built brick by brick. How do you use LEGOs in your homeschool day?