Collaborative Learning Application for Kids: Math, English and Arts
Senior Project 2013
Base 10 Blocks
Base 10 blocks are mathematical manipulative for learning Mathematics operations, number sense, position notation, and counting. Base 10 blocks have a cube or “Unit” to represent one, ten cube strip or “Rod” to represent ten, and 100 cube blocks or “Flat” to represent 100 as shown in figure1. Student can manipulate Base 10 blocks in many ways to represent the number. The correct representation of number in Base 10 blocks is using the fewer items of Base 10 blocks to represent the number. For example, student can represent 22 by using 2 rods and 2 units instead using 22 units. Student who represents by using 2 rods and 2 units is correct because he uses only 4 items instead 22 items.
Definition of Base 10 Blocks
For Mathematical operation learning, it will use drop area table for dividing area to drop the item in the correct area as show in figure 2. Area division of plus and minus operation are the same. The last column (on the right) is unit’s area that allows student to drop only unit items. Next to unit’s area is ten’s area that allows student to drop only rod items. The last column on the left is hundred’s area that allow student to drop only flat items. If student drop item in the wrong area, the program will alert by using red tab in below of the area that was dropped.
Figure 1 Three Types of cube in Base 10 blocks
Figure 2 Area division of plus and minus
The area division of multiplication is different from the area of plus and minus as show in figure 3. A long y axis (on the left) is the factor and the other is on x axis (on the top). Student has to fill from y axis and x axis to be a rectangle that will be the answer of this question. From figure 3, the question is 23 (x- axis) multiply 10 (y axis) and the answer is 230 that is 2 flats and 3rods inside the rectangle.
Figure 3 Area division of multiplication
References
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Denzil, 2013, “What are Base 10 Blocks?”, The Math A tube[online], Available: http://www.mathatube.com/base-ten-block-understanding.html [2013, November 12]
Last Updated: 21/1/2014
