Where is volume hiding in LEGO Games volume towers?

Quick answer

Volume is the amount of space inside a 3D shape, and you can find it by counting how many blocks are in each layer of a LEGO tower and adding them up. It's like stacking blocks and counting how many blocks you used in total!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to calculate the volume of a tower made from LEGO blocks by counting the blocks in each layer and adding them together.

• You can count how many blocks are in each layer of a tower.
• You can add up the blocks from all the layers to find the total volume.
• You can explain how volume shows how much space something takes up.
• You can build your own tower and find its volume.

Why this matters

Volume is a real-life idea that helps us understand how much space things take up. When you play with LEGO, you're already thinking about volume! Whether you're building a tall castle, a house, or a car, you're stacking blocks and using volume to know how big your creation is. This helps you plan how many blocks you need, how much space it takes up, and how to make it stronger. In real life, volume is used in cooking (how much space food takes up), in packing suitcases, in building houses, and even in science experiments!

How it works

Volume is about counting how much space something takes up. When we build with LEGO, we stack blocks in layers. Each layer is a flat group of blocks. To find the total volume, we:

1. Count how many blocks are in the first layer.
2. Count how many blocks are in the second layer.
3. Count how many blocks are in the third layer.
4. Add up all the blocks from all the layers.

For example, if your tower has 3 layers with 4, 5, and 6 blocks, the volume is 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 blocks. This means your tower is made of 15 LEGO blocks in total!

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some real LEGO tower examples to help you understand how volume works:

Now we add them up: 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 blocks.

Adventure example: You're building a LEGO spaceship and you make 4 layers. The first layer has 6 blocks, the second has 7, the third has 5, and the fourth has 8. How many blocks do you use in total?

• Layer 1: 6 blocks
• Layer 2: 7 blocks
• Layer 3: 5 blocks
• Layer 4: 8 blocks

Total: 6 + 7 + 5 + 8 = 26 blocks.

Try it as a mini adventure

LEGO Volume Challenge: Build a tower using at least 3 layers. Each layer must have a different number of blocks. Count how many blocks are in each layer and add them up. Try to make your tower as tall as you can while still keeping it stable!

1. First layer: ? blocks
2. Second layer: ? blocks
3. Third layer: ? blocks
4. Fourth layer: ? blocks
5. Total volume: ? blocks

Can you make a tower that uses 20 blocks in total? How many different ways can you do it?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Forgetting to count one layer or counting the same layer twice.
• Why it happens: When building fast, it’s easy to miss a layer or double-count.
• Fix: Check each layer carefully and write down the number before moving on.
• Mistake: Adding the wrong numbers together.
• Why it happens: When adding quickly, children might make a mistake in their mental math.
• Fix: Use fingers or draw blocks to help count and add.
• Mistake: Thinking volume means height instead of total blocks.
• Why it happens: Children often confuse height with volume.
• Fix: Remind them that volume is how many blocks there are in total, not how tall the tower is.

Parent and carer guide

Help your child understand volume by building towers together. Ask them to count the blocks in each layer and add them up. You can also challenge them to build towers with a certain volume, like 10 blocks. Encourage them to use a notebook or paper to write down their counts. If they make a mistake, guide them gently by asking, “Let’s count that layer again.” Avoid saying, “That’s wrong,” because it can make them feel discouraged. Instead, say, “Let’s try counting it again.” You can also use real-world examples like how many cups fit in a jug or how many books fit in a shelf to help them connect volume to everyday life.

Practice questions

1. How many blocks are in a tower with 3 layers: 4, 5, and 6 blocks?
2. A tower has 4 layers with 3, 7, 2, and 8 blocks. What is the total volume?
3. Build a tower with 3 layers. Layer 1 has 5 blocks, Layer 2 has 3 blocks, and Layer 3 has 7 blocks. What is the total volume?
4. How many blocks in a tower with layers of 6, 4, 5, and 3?
5. Make a tower with 5 layers. Each layer has 2 blocks. What is the total volume?

Answers:

1. 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 blocks
2. 3 + 7 + 2 + 8 = 20 blocks
3. 5 + 3 + 7 = 15 blocks
4. 6 + 4 + 5 + 3 = 18 blocks
5. 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10 blocks

FAQ

What is volume?

Volume is how much space something takes up. When you build with LEGO, volume is the total number of blocks in your tower.

How do I find the volume of a tower?

Count the blocks in each layer, then add them all up. That total is your tower’s volume.

Can volume be different for the same tower?

No, the volume is always the same unless you add or remove blocks.

Why do we need to know about volume?

Volume helps us understand how much space things take up. It’s useful in building, cooking, and planning how to fit things in spaces.

Can I use volume to compare towers?

Yes! If one tower has 10 blocks and another has 15, the second one has more volume and takes up more space.