Although some teachers associate their use more with primary classrooms, Cuisenaire rods can be a powerful visualisation tool to help students of all ages solve problems about fractions, ratio and proportions. In this feature, we introduce our new Cuisenaire interactive environment with tasks designed to promote visualising and strategic thinking.
problem
Rod fractions
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
Pick two rods of different colours. Given an unlimited supply of rods of each of the two colours, how can we work out what fraction the shorter rod is of the longer one?
problem
Colour building
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Using only the red and white rods, how many different ways are there to make up the other rods?
problem
Favourite
Searching for mean(ing)
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
If you have a large supply of 3kg and 8kg weights, how many of each would you need for the average (mean) of the weights to be 6kg?
problem
Combining lengths
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
How many different lengths is it possible to measure with a set of three rods?
problem
Different by one
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Can you make lines of Cuisenaire rods that differ by 1?
list
Cuisenaire
The tasks in this feature use Cuisenaire rods to help learners visualise and explore the links to be made between proportionality, equivalence, comparison, difference and pattern.
list
Working with Mental Images
Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
Challenge your students to develop their visualisation skills by working on these tasks