Block play can teach children about gravity, physics, and spatial relationships. A hands-on lesson incorporates these concepts with an activity in which learners examine the relationship between levels in a pile. Scholars begin to understand the function and use it to estimate the number of blocks on each level.

Concepts

estimation, functions, counting

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

math

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Use blocks or coins and do a few trials before guessing the relationship in the picture
• Discuss if the function is linear, exponential, or quadratic

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of estimation

Pros

• Easy to incorporate hands-on activities
• Extends to higher and lower levels as needed

Cons

• None

Common Core

7.EE.B.3 HSF-IF.B.4 HSF-IF.B.6 HSF-LE.B.5 HSS-ID.B.6.a HSS-ID.B.6.b MP4 MP5