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"Mom friendly" algebra manipulatives


AimeeM
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What are some of your favorite manipulatives (for a kinesthetic learner) for algebra 1? We've been putting together a math notebook and Autumn has had a fantastic time cutting, gluing, and using multiple colors of felt pens - so any "crafts" related to algebra would also be awesome. 

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Hands on equations uses a visual/kinesthetic approach to solving simple equations.

 

MUS uses "the blocks" to introduce algebra concepts.  I've seen the factoring polynomials lesson, and it's brilliant.

 

There's something called Algeblocks, but I've never actually seen it in action.

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Here's a free manual on using a set of manipulatives with algebra. They're not quite the same size as Algeblocks, but the methods are the same as those taught in the Algeblocks books.

 

http://www.mathedpage.org/manipulatives/lab-gear.html

 

I have a set of Algeblocks I got on Ebay, and they work well for this purpose. Also, after getting the Algeblocks and discovering I was missing some pieces, I discovered that we could build them out of legos, and have actually used those more with my tutoring student than I have the official algeblocks. I've loved ALgeblocks since I went to a workshop on them while in grad school and had some things finally make sense (I have visual-spatial processing off the bottom of the scale, and tend to really struggle with graphing, but having the 3D objects I could FEEL made all the difference in the world).

 

Here's some online stuff on the official Algeblocks.

 

http://nwsiders.com/Algeblocks/index.html

 

 

Here's a site with Algeblocks printables

 

https://sites.google.com/site/jillgergenselectronicportfolio/training-tools-for-algeblocks

 

And here's my blog post on improvising using legos

 

http://makingmusicwithkids.blogspot.com/2012/07/where-theres-will-theres-lego-way.html

 

 

Actual Algeblocks tend to be very expensive and hard to find used, unfortunately.

 

 

If you want something to go in a math journal, algebra tiles would work. I'd think you could print these on colored paper or cut them out of felt and then glue in for individual problems. Here's a PDF on using them

 

http://mathresources4teachers.pbworks.com/f/algebra+tiles+Final.pdf

 

I don't like algebra tiles nearly as much as Algeblocks because they lack that 3D component, which I need. I have had students use paper cutouts for recording in a math notebook, though.

 

One hint on Algebra tiles-often the sets sold for use on projectors are cheap if you can find them (since digital manipulatives are replacing them) and are just the right size for a single student to use. I've bought a lot of overhead manipulatives from ETA's clearance sales.

 

 

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I just came across this math teacher's blog. She uses interactive student notebooks in her class and has some great looking foldables and math helps. Not sure if this is what your are looking for, but it is certainly interesting reading and offers inspiration for making algebra hands-on.

 

http://everybodyisageniusblog.blogspot.com/p/interactive-notebooks.html

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Yes, they are, and activities are often interchangeable. I prefer the Algeblocks because an X^3 is really x^3, not x^2 in a different color. (For 4th degree and higher, well, hopefully you've gotten the concept by that point!), but for most kids, either will work (and some don't need them at all).

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Yes, they are, and activities are often interchangeable. I prefer the Algeblocks because an X^3 is really x^3, not x^2 in a different color. (For 4th degree and higher, well, hopefully you've gotten the concept by that point!), but for most kids, either will work (and some don't need them at all).

I spent some $$ buying these a couple of years ago. Do you see yourself using them with your DD when using AOPS? I think I used it once, not with AOPS, just with Henri Picciotto's materials (he emailed them to me).

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I spent some $$ buying these a couple of years ago. Do you see yourself using them with your DD when using AOPS? I think I used it once, not with AOPS, just with Henri Picciotto's materials (he emailed them to me).

Probably not. DD's one of these annoyingly Mathy folks who just sees it intuitively and finds "playing with stupid blocks" a waste of time. For math club, though, or when I tutor, they come in handy.

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