Working with Cuisenaire Rods In Mathematics

Willis Grace                   O. A. Thorp Academy
                               6024 W. Warwick Ave.
                               Chicago IL 60634
                               312-534-3640

Objective:

Fourth Grade students will learn the numerical value of each underlined letter 
of the standard Rod Code and develop systematic usage for building new units.  

Materials Needed:

     A set of Cuisenaire Rods for each student or groups of two
     Construction Paper
     Scissors
     Transparencies
     Overhead Projector

Strategy:

In order to effectively develop good skills for working with common 
denominators, students must first strengthen and reinforce their basic skills.  
These basic skills encompass such concepts as addition, subtraction, 
multiplication and division of whole numbers which form a foundation for 
fractions.  The materials used reinforce concepts further by providing students 
with concrete examples of the skills that they practice. 
               
Performance Assessment:

     a. Given Cuisenaire Rods, introduced to strategies, and ample        
        performance time, students will utilize the activity card, "Finding 
        One." 
 
     b. The students will answer 5 out of 7 questions correctly while 
        playing "Finding One."

     c. The students will demonstrate whole fractions (reduced) using
        Cuisenaire Rods.

     d. The students will demonstrate equivalent fractions using Cuisenaire 
        Rods. 

     e. The students will discuss length, color, and shape of Cuisenaire Rods.

Multicultural Aspects:

     Cuisenaire Rods were discovered in Thuin, Belgium over forty years ago by 
George Cuisenaire and are now recognized as a basic learning tool all over the 
world.