This free math video series shows me introducing early algebra concepts to my 6 and 8-year-old daughters using Cuisenaire Rods and Base Ten Blocks. I covered some base ten rods with paper and Mod-Podge to represent “x” here.
I got these ideas from Crewton Ramone’s House of Math. He uses different blocks than I do and his are actually meant to be used for algebra. Cuisenaire/Base 10 blocks are what I have here so I just made some cosmetic changes in order to do the same things he shows in his videos.
Cuisenaire Rods and Base Ten Blocks can be used to represent variables in algebra. This makes it less abstract and young kids are able to understand what would otherwise be completely beyond their math and logic abilities.
My girls have had previous experience with square numbers and I think that helped them to catch on to this quickly. You can see videos of them playing with square numbers in base ten on the Multiplication and Division Concepts page. Or click below…
