Using Base 10 Blocks

Originally published here on February 29, 2008.

If you teach math to elementary school grades or to special education students, manipulatives are essential. They allow you to take abstract concepts and make them tangible and concrete.

I fumbled around with base 10 blocks a couple of times, but this year I had the opportunity to watch Ms. K. East use them in class and it became much more obvious to me how productive they can be.

If you're looking for help in using base 10 blocks, I have two pieces online:

• Teaching Place Value: Base Ten Blocks Help in Making Abstract Ideas Concrete


• Teaching Subtraction: Base Ten Blocks Help Make Subtraction Concrete

Hope they help...