Making the Most of Base Ten Blocks
Base ten blocks are a popular math toy because it offers kids a fun and simple way to get familiarized with and know more about numbers. They are educational aids that bring math out of the books and classroom into the real world, enabling kids to visualize numbers in actual space. Base ten blocks not only teach children the basic math skills, but also they can work as a learning instrument when children start learning complex things like decimals and ratios. Here are some tips for teachers, parents and adults on how to make the most of base ten blocks in teaching children as well as learning the very necessary math skills.
Base Ten Blocks – What are They?
Base ten blocks are plain cubical blocks containing no numbers or words on their sides. They are based on a basic cube and feature various designs containing small cubes. Rather than having numbers or graphical representation on their sides, the cubes’ shapes symbolize a numerical value. Generally the cubes have different colors to enable kids further distinguish and visualize various numbers.
Knowing the Blocks
Before you start using base ten blocks, it is essential that you know the various types of blocks. First type of blocks in the collection of base ten blocks is the primary “building block” i.e. the ones block. These are small cubes and represent the value of one. Then there are the long blocks, which is actually a row of single cubes arranged together in a straight line and represent the value of 10. These ten long blocks arranged together to form a square are called the flat blocks and represent the value of 100. Lastly, a big cube comprising of ten flats is known as the Block and stands for a value of 1000.
Modeling of Numbers
Modeling numbers is one of the initial activities kids learn to perform with a math manipulative like base ten blocks. This activity allows children to know that large numbers contain separate elements. For instance, 315 can be looked at as 31 tens and five ones or 3 hundreds, 1 tens and five ones. A collection of base ten blocks should be given to children to let them “create” specific numbers from them.
Number Reading
Base ten blocks can also be used in the reverse direction. Use the blocks to represent a number and ask the child to identify the blocks in the form of a number and write it down. Begin with smallest numbers possible so that children can identify them correctly which would increase their interest and encourage them to take the activity further. Starting with small numbers, you can then proceed towards complex numbers so that the child would be comfortable while dealing with more complicated activities.
Word Puzzles
You can use base ten blocks not only for numerical problems, but also for word problems. An example is, “Are two flats and five longs equal to twenty five longs?” This will help them to start understanding the various units that are contained in large numbers. Let the children work on and understand these concepts with both tools – math blocks as well as paper and pencil. This will allow children to use blocks to model the situations in the word problem like the example above and answer the problem, or use pencil and paper to indicate each example in the form of its numerical value.
Introduction to Division
When kids start to understand that all numbers can contain various other components, they may start thinking of division. So, now you come to know of one more use of the base ten blocks – make the kids work on division problems! Here is an example – say you have 120 lollipops and you want to divide them between two persons. Here if you use the base ten blocks to indicate 120 with one flat and two longs, it would be difficult to divide them evenly. But if you indicate 120 with 12 longs, an even division would be easy. You can give your child many such problems to solve and check how they can understand the number components and divide them efficiently.
Decimals
Next in the academic life of children, there is an arrival of decimals. Here too base ten blocks can be best used to make your child understand decimals. You can just make use of the blocks to indicate decimals rather than whole numbers. For example, you can allot the ones place to a larger block like a flat or even a block. Smaller blocks can indicate the values to the right of the decimal point. Let children consider decimal numbers and ask them to model decimals with the help of the base ten blocks.
Ratios
Next there are ratios to understand and here too once again you can make use of base ten blocks to teach ratios to your child. For example, if you want to let the child find out the value of “x” in the ratio of 6:15 = 12:x. Here instead of cross multiplying and finding the value, there is an easier way to find it with base ten blocks. If you start using the blocks in your mind problems it will be easy. And even if you are not able to, it’s easier to understand the concept. This also emphasizes the need of memorizing multiplication tables. If you believe that multiplication tables are not needed now in the times of calculators and computers, understand that memorizing tables is a great way to improve your cognitive skills. And in the first place, you should know that 6 and 15 are both in the table of 3, and without mastering tables, you can’t know that!
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