Cuisenaire rods
Coloured number rods for hands-on mathematics learning.
Last updated
Cuisenaire rods are colored wooden blocks of varying lengths used as hands-on mathematics learning aids for pupils.[1] They were created by Belgian teacher Georges Cuisenaire and popularized by Caleb Gattegno in the early 1950s.[1] The rods allow learners to explore arithmetic, fractions, and other mathematical concepts through tactile manipulation.[1][2]
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1891
- Died
- 1975
- Field
- Mathematics education
- Nationality
- Belgian
Facts from the source article.
How it changed
Cuisenaire published his method in the 1952 book Les nombres en couleurs.[3][4] Gattegno realized the rods provided an algebraic model for mathematics at all levels and allowed learners to investigate for themselves.[4] He founded the Cuisenaire Company in Reading, England, in 1954.[5][6] By the end of the 1950s, rods were used in 10,000 schools across more than a hundred countries.[5]
Cuisenaire observed that children picked up musical tunes with ease and enjoyment, yet did not experience the same ease or enjoyment with mathematics.[3] For about 23 years, the rods were largely unknown beyond the village of Thuin; this changed in April 1953 when Caleb Gattegno came to Thuin and watched students using them.[3] A 1969 study conducted in Colorado Springs School District Eleven concluded that employing the rods from kindergarten through second grade improved arithmetic achievement.[7] The rods have also found a role in language instruction, especially within The Silent Way method.[8]
What the maker and period sources say
The same source noted the rods are helpful from kindergarten through high school but especially in early grades.[9] Hulz stated the rods do not constitute a fixed teaching system and can be used with gifted or retarded children.[9] The Cuisenaire Company's website says the rods encourage inventiveness and hands-on exploration.[6] A Froebel Web account reports that Gattegno lectured in many countries and that his work convinced others that all children have latent ability.[4]
The same account notes that Gattegno observed how much precise language was generated through students' discussion of the rods.[4]
References
- Wikipedia, "Cuisenaire rods" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Cuisenaire Rods Come To America", Etacuisenaire.com; Gregg, "How I teach using Cuisenaire rods", mathagogy.com; "Teaching fractions with Cuisenaire rods", Teachertech.rice.edu (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Cuisenaire rods" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gregg, "Cuisenaire – from Early Years to Adult", Association of Teachers of Mathematics, 2017; Gregg, "Cuisenaire – from Early Years to Adult", Association of Teachers of Mathematics, 2017 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Cuisenaire rods" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: International Commission for the Study and Improvement of Mathematics Education (CIEAEM) (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Georges Cuisenaire created numbers in color", Froebel Web. facts only, no text reused. froebelweb.org
- Wikipedia, "Cuisenaire rods" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "About Us", The Cuisenaire Company; "Association of Teachers of Mathematics Honours Dr. Caleb Gattegno at Annual Conference", Computer Weekly News, April 14, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "About Us", The Cuisenaire Company. facts only, no text reused. cuisenaire.co.uk
- Internet Archive scan: "ERIC ED032128: Does the Use of Cuisenaire Rods in Kindergarten, First and Second Grades Upgrade Arithmetic Achievement?" (1969-06). facts only; machine OCR of the scan. archive.org
- Wikipedia, "Cuisenaire rods" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Beginner Silent Way exercises using Cuisenaire rods", glenys-hanson.info; "English Verb Tenses: a dynamic presentation using the Cuisenaire Rods", glenys-hanson.info; "Silent Way: rods, describing a scene (part 6 of 8)", YouTube, 2010-04-11 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Internet Archive scan: "AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CUISENAIRE RODS, AN APPROACH TO THE TEACHING OF ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS." (1962-05). facts only; machine OCR of the scan. archive.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Cuisenaire rods (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Belgian inventions
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Cuisenaire rods (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced