chaya Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I'd like to buy some cuisenaire rods and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the options. plastic, wood, connecting, etc. what are your favorites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I like the wooden rods. From what I researched, the plastic ones aren't perfectly square. My kids enjoy playing with rods, like building towers, so the plastic ones wouldn't have worked for us. I have two of the 155 sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I have some plastic ones (Learning Resource or whatever the tub was from RR), but I went back and got the wood ones from ETA directly. ETA was fabulous to order from btw and sells lots of other things, like phonics dominoes, science supplies, etc. The plastic ones I had were not a *problem* for what we were doing (at the time making alphabet letters and pictures for an activity book) but I like the wood better. It's not like the plastic are non-functional though. There's always something to spend your money on, lol. Btw, buy more than you think you need. My boy turns his c-rods into guns using tape. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Another vote for wood for the reasons mentioned above. I guess some people like the plastic better because they're more durable, but we've never had an issue with the wood ones. Not that I had any teething babies get to them or anything, but still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 We like wood. I wouldn't get less than 155. That seems to just barely be enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 My mother bought a set of wooden cuisonaire rods back in the 60's when she first started out teaching. My kids and I are still using them and they look great. I don't know if the current versions are as well built, but I would think that even with today's construction standards, wood would hold up better than plastic in most instances. My kids have used the plastic variety but my daughter especially really preferred the feel of the wooden ones. I agree, don't go less than 155... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaya Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 thanks for all the responses. wood it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaya Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 double post, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I prefer the plastic ones. They have more heft than the soft-wood ones. If they were "hard-wood" it would be a different story, but... Either are fine, just not the "linking" manipulatives that are marketed as Cuisenaire Rods (but aren't C Rods). Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PandaMom Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 I prefer the wooden ones. Here is a link to the set I purchased on Amazon. You definitely need more than you think and they are fun to play with. http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Cuisenaire-Multipk-LER7503/dp/B000URL35Y/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384783218&sr=8-3&keywords=wooden+cuisinaire+rods Susie DD(8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 I got two sets of the wooden ones on Ebay new for less then I could find anywhere else.... I have maybe a total of 170+ and would love more. There's a website that show how to use them all the way up through multiplication/division, and fractions.... now if I could just find the site again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 I got two sets of the wooden ones on Ebay new for less then I could find anywhere else.... I have maybe a total of 170+ and would love more. There's a website that show how to use them all the way up through multiplication/division, and fractions.... now if I could just find the site again.It's probably educationunboxed. She has great videos. We have plastic and wood. I don't have a strong preference but I like the feel of the plastic rods a bit better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Do you know anyone in your area that has both versions so you could feel both types before purchasing? It obviously is really dependent on the individual after seeing the various responses. As mentioned previously, my daughter REALLY preferred the feel of the wood but my son honestly didn't care. Another parent I know who uses them just told me they prefer the plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 The plastic ones I got from Rainbow Resources didn't show the commutative property very well, and the colors orange and red were way too similar (I know the rods are 8 units different in length, but it was confusing for the kids). At my local teacher's store I bought the wooden ones from ETA, which I prefer. We end up using bother tubs sometimes, but always grab the wooden rods first. We got the 155 pack, and have done fine with that (we do have the plastic ones if needed). You may want some 100 flats or extra tens rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.