Cuisenaire® Rods are colourful rods that can be used for small groups or whole class work to help children understand mathematical concepts. The rods come in different sizes and colours, and each colour represents a different rod length that can each be assigned numeric values or units of measure. Learning Resources® offer three different types of rods; wooden, plastic and interlocking plastic, and each are available in three different sizes: introductory, small group and classroom multi pack.Cuisenaire® Rods are a hands-on teaching resource. They relate abstract ideas about numbers and shapes to something children can see and touch. This makes mathematical ideas easier to internalise and encourages children to solve abstract problems they may not otherwise be able to. These rods were invented by Georges Cuisenaire. He discovered that by making use of children’s natural inclination to play and giving them an appealing material which demonstrated the relationships on which mathematics is based, it was possible to provide understanding for them all.1. Wooden Cuisenaire® Rods Introductory Set (Set of 74)2. Plastic Cuisenaire® Rods Introductory Set (Set of 74)3. Interlocking Plastic Cuisenaire® Rods Introductory Set (Set of 74) Learning Resources® also offer a Cuisenaire® Jr. set called Ants on a Log™ for younger learners aged four and above. This set provides a simple introduction to Cuisenaire® Rods with soft plastic pieces featuring a digit on one side and the corresponding number of ants on the reverse.
What types of activities are Cuisenaire® Rods used for?
Addition and subtraction
Multiplication and division
Measurement
Algebra
Creating models
Investigatingfractions with rod pairs
Findingequivalent fractions
Exploring ratio
Perimeters
Spatial Reasoning
Five other ways you can use Cuisenaire® Rods:
1) Rhythm Blocks
Rods can be used to show visual representation of musical notes. This will help children and/or adults understand the note’s relative duration and improve their ability to recognise them within a score.
2) Creative Construction
Using Cuisenaire® Rods freely to create designs and structures introduces children to measurement, proportion and 3D shapes. It also encourages children to notice rod attributes and relationships. For instance, that all blue rods are the same size, two red rods equal a purple rod, or a purple rod is one white rod less than the yellow one. Share your new Cuisenaire Rod creations with us today! Here are some creations we love that have been shared on Pinterest:
3) Learning the value of coins
When each rod size is placed next to each other, they increase in increments of 10%. This means that they can be assigned to a coin value and used to improve children’s financial awareness. Assigning a rod to a coin value and experiment with how many rod/coin combinations can make up a certain amount.The Cuisenaire® Jr. Ants on a Log™ set can be used to help children with early addition of coins. Attach a 1p to the rod that shows one ant and a 2p to the rod that shows two ants and complete basic addition sums such as 2p + 2p. Children can then add the total number of ants to reach the answer.
4) Symmetry
Cuisenaire® rods can be used to familiarise children with symmetry. Draw a line down the middle of a page of plain or graph paper and create half of a picture on one side. Provide an array of coloured rods and ask children to individually complete the picture making sure that everything is symmetrical. They can test their symmetry using a mirror along the middle line. To make the activity easier only provide the rods necessary to complete the image.
5) Words and sentences
The rods can be used to highlight the number of syllables within words. This activity is effective as a whole class activity using the Giant Magnetic Cuisenaire® Rods Demonstration Set. This will help children to see, as well as hear, where the stress is placed. This is also helpful for children learning English as an additional language, as words that may appear to have three syllables can be visually shown as having two, making them easier to repeat and memorise. The rods can also be used to show the number of letters in a word. This can be set as a group or individual task, where children match coloured rods to the word with the corresponding number of letters. Children can also associate a certain colour rod to nouns, verbs, adjectives and punctuation in a sentence.View the full range of Cuisenaire® Rods here.
Educational toys can provide children with opportunities to use their vocabulary and discover new words. Imaginative play tools such as puppets help young learners to express themselves, ask questions and practice the art of conversation.Educational board games are a great way to help children make sense of social constructs such as following rules, listening to others, asking questions, winning and losing. Family games also help children to play co-operatively and, by actively listening, they will begin to take account of other people’s ideas and feelings.
2) Physical Development
Toys that aid physical development help children to be active and develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Fine motor skills refers to small movements such as gripping object and uses the small muscles of the fingers, toes, wrists, lips and tongue. Resources such as Jumbo Tweezers and Handy Scoopers™ help to strengthen these muscles and prepare children for tasks that will increase their independence, such as holding a pen or dressing themselves.Gross motor skills refers to the movement and co-ordination of larger body parts such as the arms and legs. Active play is a great way to develop gross motor skills through actions such as running, walking, jumping and crawling. Toys that encourage movement such as Pancake Pile-Up!™ and Math Marks the Spot™ help to promote physical activity alongside learning essential core skills.
3) Personal, Social and Emotional Awareness
Toys such as Mirror Boards and Puppets help children to build self confidence and form relationships. Children can use these tools to initiate conversations that help them to manage their feelings and sharpen observation skills. Through play, children become familiar with social constructs such as turn-taking, helping them to form relationships and develop respect for others.
Children discover the world through their senses. Toys that promote tactile awareness and sensory exploration help young learners to make sense of the physical world around them.  By combining sensory awareness and scientific discovery with exploration toys such as magnifiers, projectors and microscopes children can satisfy their natural curiosity in the physical world.
5) Creativity and Imagination
Play is a full time job that is fuelled by creativity and imagination. Imaginative play resources encourage children to draw on first-hand experiences in pretend play scenarios, helping them to make sense of day to day life. By the age of three, children are able to absorb themselves in make-believe and will often start to create elaborate story lines. This type of play is important as it helps young learners to build confidence, perseverance and self esteem.
Starting school is an important chapter in a child’s life and educational toys help them to develop basic early skills to prepare them for their new adventure! By playing with toys that help with pre-writing, speech language and communication, confidence, numbers and early phonics, young learners will have the head-start they need to shine at ‘big’ school.Learn more in our ‘School Readiness’ blog post.
7) Outdoor Exploration
Outdoor learning and active play are an essential part of a child’s development, building a variety of key skills including confidence, social skills and well-being whilst experiencing the wonders of the world around them. Hands-on tools such as Kidnoculars® and Jumbo Magnifiers encourage children to get up-close to nature, helping them to understand the world around them.
STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. STEM toys encourage children to solve real-world problems through enquiry-based problem-solving, hands-on experimentation, trial and error, and self-discovery. Challenges follow the Engineering Design Process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) and can pose challenges such as building simple machines or programming a Robot Mouse.
9) Core Skills
Learning Resources’ toys are designed in-line with the National Curriculum for England and help to support core skills across Literacy, Maths, Science and Geography. Through exciting game play and engaging activities, children will improve essential skills from the alphabet and phonics to fractions and measurement, without even realising they’re learning!
10) Learning is fun!
We think it’s important to keep children captivated while learning! Hands-on toys that are fun to play with, help to keep children present in the moment so that they can uncover their true potential. #LoveLearning#Givethegiftoflearning
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Base Ten Blocks are a maths manipulative that help young learners to understand how numbers relate to one another, specifically ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.
Cuisenaire® Rods are colourful rods that can be used for small groups or whole class work to help children understand mathematical concepts. The rods come in different sizes and colours, and each colour represents a different rod length that can each be assigned numeric values or units of measure. Learning Resources® offer three different types of rods; wooden, plastic and interlocking plastic, and each are available in three different sizes: introductory, small group and classroom multi pack.Cuisenaire® Rods are a hands-on teaching resource. They relate abstract ideas about numbers and shapes to something children can see and touch. This makes mathematical ideas easier to internalise and encourages children to solve abstract problems they may not otherwise be able to. These rods were invented by Georges Cuisenaire. He discovered that by making use of children’s natural inclination to play and giving them an appealing material which demonstrated the relationships on which mathematics is based, it was possible to provide understanding for them all.1. Wooden Cuisenaire® Rods Introductory Set (Set of 74)2. Plastic Cuisenaire® Rods Introductory Set (Set of 74)3. Interlocking Plastic Cuisenaire® Rods Introductory Set (Set of 74) Learning Resources® also offer a Cuisenaire® Jr. set called Ants on a Log™ for younger learners aged four and above. This set provides a simple introduction to Cuisenaire® Rods with soft plastic pieces featuring a digit on one side and the corresponding number of ants on the reverse.
What types of activities are Cuisenaire® Rods used for?
Addition and subtraction
Multiplication and division
Measurement
Algebra
Creating models
Investigatingfractions with rod pairs
Findingequivalent fractions
Exploring ratio
Perimeters
Spatial Reasoning
Five other ways you can use Cuisenaire® Rods:
1) Rhythm Blocks
Rods can be used to show visual representation of musical notes. This will help children and/or adults understand the note’s relative duration and improve their ability to recognise them within a score.
2) Creative Construction
Using Cuisenaire® Rods freely to create designs and structures introduces children to measurement, proportion and 3D shapes. It also encourages children to notice rod attributes and relationships. For instance, that all blue rods are the same size, two red rods equal a purple rod, or a purple rod is one white rod less than the yellow one. Share your new Cuisenaire Rod creations with us today! Here are some creations we love that have been shared on Pinterest:
3) Learning the value of coins
When each rod size is placed next to each other, they increase in increments of 10%. This means that they can be assigned to a coin value and used to improve children’s financial awareness. Assigning a rod to a coin value and experiment with how many rod/coin combinations can make up a certain amount.The Cuisenaire® Jr. Ants on a Log™ set can be used to help children with early addition of coins. Attach a 1p to the rod that shows one ant and a 2p to the rod that shows two ants and complete basic addition sums such as 2p + 2p. Children can then add the total number of ants to reach the answer.
4) Symmetry
Cuisenaire® rods can be used to familiarise children with symmetry. Draw a line down the middle of a page of plain or graph paper and create half of a picture on one side. Provide an array of coloured rods and ask children to individually complete the picture making sure that everything is symmetrical. They can test their symmetry using a mirror along the middle line. To make the activity easier only provide the rods necessary to complete the image.
5) Words and sentences
The rods can be used to highlight the number of syllables within words. This activity is effective as a whole class activity using the Giant Magnetic Cuisenaire® Rods Demonstration Set. This will help children to see, as well as hear, where the stress is placed. This is also helpful for children learning English as an additional language, as words that may appear to have three syllables can be visually shown as having two, making them easier to repeat and memorise. The rods can also be used to show the number of letters in a word. This can be set as a group or individual task, where children match coloured rods to the word with the corresponding number of letters. Children can also associate a certain colour rod to nouns, verbs, adjectives and punctuation in a sentence.View the full range of Cuisenaire® Rods here.
