Learning Math With Manipulatives - Base Ten Blocks (Part I)

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Base ten blocks are an excellent tool for teachingbe useful later on when children learn the paper and
children the concept of addition because they allowpencil algorithm.
children to touch and manipulate something real whileAnother useful skill to practice is trading base ten
learning important skills that translate well into paperblocks. Each block can be traded for 10 flats, each flat
and pencil addition. In this article, I will describe base tenfor 10 rods, and each rod for 10 cubes. Going the other
blocks and how to use them to represent and addway, 10 cubes can be traded for one rod, 10 rods for
numbers.one flat, and 10 flats for one block.
The numbering system that children learn and the oneOne simple use of base ten blocks that translates well
most of us are familiar with is the base ten system.to a paper and pencil method of addition is to add by
This essentially means that you can only use tenregrouping. To add two or more numbers, start by
unique digits (0 to 9) in each place of a base tenrepresenting each number with base ten blocks. Put all
number. For instance, in the number 345, there is aof the cubes from both numbers in the same pile; do
hundreds place, a tens place and a ones place. Thethis with the rods, flats, and blocks as well. Next, trade
only possible digits that could go in each place are theany groups of 10 cubes for a rod. Trade any groups
digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. In this example, theof 10 rods for a flat; then trade any groups of 10 flats
place value of the ones place is 5.for a block. To read the resulting number, count the
Base ten blocks turn the base ten concept intonumber of base ten blocks left in each pile and read
something children can see and touch.the number.
Base ten blocks consist of cubes, rods, flats, andTo illustrate this procedure, picture the addition question,
blocks. Cubes represent the ones place and look568 + 693. After representing both numbers with base
exactly like their name suggests - a small cube usuallyten blocks and combining the piles of like base ten
one centimeter by one centimeter by one centimeter.blocks, you should have a pile of 11 cubes, a pile of 15
Rods represent the tens place and look like ten cubesrods, and a pile of 11 flats. Trading 10 of the cubes for 1
placed in a row and fused together. Flats, as you mightrod means you now have 1 cube, 16 rods and 11 flats.
have guessed, represent hundreds, and blocksTrading 10 of the rods for one flat results in 1 cube, 6
represent thousands. A flat looks like one hundredrods, and 12 flats. Trading 10 of the flats for one block
cubes place in a 10 x 10 square and attached together.gives you your final piles of 1 cube, 6 rods, 2 flats, and 1
A block looks like ten flats piled one on top of theblock. The answer to the addition question, therefore, is
other and bonded together.1,261.
In order to use base ten blocks to add numbers,If you don't have base ten blocks, you can use the
students should be familiar with how to representvirtual base ten blocks or make paper versions. If you
numbers using base ten blocks. To see what base tenneed addition questions (with the answers included),
blocks look like, and to try them out, go to the Nationalyou can access thousands of free math worksheets
Library of Virtual Manipulatives:at
To represent a number using base ten blocks, makeIn future articles, I will describe more uses for base ten
piles of base ten blocks to represent each place value.blocks including subtraction and multiplication, and I will
If your number was 2,784, you would make a pile of 2continue the series with other manipulatives that can
blocks, a pile of 7 flats, a pile of 8 rods, and a pile of 4help your child or student learn math.
cubes. It is useful to arrange the piles in a row in the