Cuisenaire Rods

Grade Level(s):  Various Grades

Content Area:                                                                        Process Area:

Numbers and Operations                                           Problem-Solving

Algebra                                                           Reasoning and Proof

Geometry                                                                    Communication

Measurement                                                             Representation

Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability                    Connections

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.1: Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3: Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.

Targeted Needs of Student:

Exploring fractions and parts of a whole, representing fractions using manipulatives, introducing algebra concepts, working with fact families

Goal:

To provide students with an explorative way of representing fractions and parts of a whole

Materials Needed:

1.      Cuisenaire Rods for each student

2.      Grid to match rods

Explanation/Summary:

Students will use Cuisenaire rods to show fractions. Each rod resembles a number that can be compared to another rod to show. For instance the lime green rod is half of the dark green rod. When put together, this can show one half of a whole. Also other rods resemble 1/3, 1/5, and 1/4.

Resource:

Shared in SES 472 class