Description
The wood set comes with base, cover, a "unit one" bar and then rows of that unit one bar cut into 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10 increments. The unit one bar also has notched lines in units of 1/40.
I use 2 contrasting 1/4" thick woods for the bars. Maple and alder are shown in the pictures, but I may use alternate woods at times. The frame is made from floorboard, which provides strength and is scratch and water resistant.
A wood cover will allow convenient storage to protect the pieces from getting lost.
The set measures about 7.5" x 10". All text is deeply laser engraved.
This set can be very effective in an introduction to fractions as the student can see the concepts physically and even play and experiment with interrelationships or combinations of the units before trying to work them mathematically. The concept of least common denominator used to add or subtract fractions is also nicely supplemented by using the block.
There are many challenges that one might ask; such as:
- Can you set up the board so that each row has at least one different block? How many different ways can you find?
- Is there any way to use just a combination of the 1/3 and 1/5 blocks to fill a row?
- Take 3 different blocks such as 1/3 and 1/5 and 1/8 and string them together. Can you estimate the length by placing it against the scale on the "1" bar and then use mathematics to find the exact answer?
Made in our Hudson, Florida shop. Note, teachers and homeschoolers, should you lose a block or 2 down the road, I will replace at no cost except for shipping.
Level of Difficulty: Level 3