Multiplicative Thinking Blocks

Description

• Each set of MTB contains 109 pieces - every mulitplication from 1 x 1 to 10 x 10 at your fingertips in one single piece, with an additional nine 10 x 10 pieces so that numbers in the thousands can be modelled. Each set of MTB comes in its own bag with a loop to hang from (and to write a name or room number on).
• All pieces are double sided and colour coded, for example the front of 4 threes (in yellow) has a reverse of 3 fours (in green).
• The emphasis is on the size of the unit, rather than the number of groups, to mimic algebraic notation. For example: 4 of what size unit would result in a total of 12 or 4x = 12, x = 3. The unit is of size three. To distingiush between the number of groups and the amount in each group, rather than having two numbers with a "x" sign in between (4x3), one number and one word are used (4 threes), without any symbolic notation, so that age appropriate wording such as "groups of" or "mulitplied by" can be used.
• Focus on "groups":
  • 1 x 1 = 1
  • 2 x 1 = 2
  • 3 x 1 = 3
• MTB Focus on "unit" or amount in each group:
  • 1 one on both sides in red
  • 1 two (front, orange) 2 ones (reverse, red)
  • 1 three (front, yellow) 3 ones (reverse, red)

The blocks have been designed to complement the learning of short divsion (you may have learned the "bus stop" method eg 42 "insert divide symbol" 3 is shown as 3 | 42 with a line above the 42 where you are supposed to write the answer. Using MTB as the step between doing division as sharing items into groups and the short division algorithm ensures the links between multiplication and division are explicit, place value is reinforced and division as accessible to all students by choosing numbers friendly to the individual.

• Do, Draw, Dream (aka CPA) means that what is needed to learn anything is a combination of doing something, being able to represent it and able to think about it using your head. Learning is 3D!
• Buy 5 sets and save $5%, buy 10 sets and get one at no extra cost (11 for the price of 10).

Want your MTB in another language?
Email christine@mathsheroes.com to find out what is possible!