Overview
Base 10 blocks are a staple in elementary mathematics lessons. They can be used to model addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to emphasize the role of base 10 numbers. This modified version removes the individual 1s viewable on the 10 rods and 100 flats. The reason for doing so is to press students beyond counting by 1s and to thinking of 10s and 100s as numbers in and of themselves. Notably, children can still line up centimeter cubes on the 10 rods and 100 flats, but cannot directly count by 1s on the objects themselves (the 10ness and 100ness must be either inferred, modeled, or known).
MakerSpace Files
All files are included in the Thingiverse link below. Cost estimates are also below. Although there is a file included for the centimeter cubes, you may choose to re-use 1s cubes you may already have.
Click here to download the set of files in Thingiverse for modified base 10 blocks.
Click here for a Cricut file to create sets for students to take home and work independently.
| grams of PLA per print | Cost ($18 / Kg) per print | grams of PLA complete set | Cost ($18 / Kg) Complete set | |
| 1s (n = 20) | 16.81 (n=20) | $0.30 | 84.05 (n=100) | $1.50 |
| 10s (n = 12) | 82.45 (n=12) | $1.48 | 82.45 (n=12) | $1.48 |
| 100s (n = 10) | 47.39 (n=1) | $0.85 | 473.9 (n=10) | $8.50 |
Note: If you have not read the tutorial post on MakerSpace Manipulatives, please do so.
Examples of Use
Counting by 10s
The below video is of Lukas using modified base 10 blocks to find out how many are in a flat. He initially begins with 1s and then is prompted to try using the longer rods (10s) to figure it out. The example below was also a test of using eye-tracking glasses with children (not the focus of the example as used here, but still nice).
More to come…
