| "PATTERN NUMBERS" Math Tool Description:
Prime? Square? Factorial? Fibonacci? Catalan? Numbers, numbers, numbers! This wonderful set of colored, magnetic foam tiles teaches all about the properties of numbers.
Colors indicate which numbers are squares, primes, even numbers that aren't squares, and odd numbers that are composite (i.e. not prime).
The individual tiles contain information about the number on the tile, including its factors and whether it is a factorial, triangular, Fibonacci, or Catalan number.
The tiles are shaped so you can display the numbers vertically or staggered rows, in order to display the numbers to show in various configurations. You can count by different numbers, show the multiplication table or Pascal's triangle, or triangular numbers or Fibonacci numbers, or more!
Product Specifications:
Grades: K-12
Product Size: The numbers are stored in a square plastic jar, 4.5"x4.5", and 7.25" tall. The lid twists off. The numbers are approximately 1 1/8" x 1 1/8".
Product Weight: 1.2 lbs
Product Contents:
186 Magnetic Foam Tiles
8 Reproducible Worksheets
Color Instructions
Product Notes for International Import:
The following countries do not allow magnetized materials, such as PATTERN NUMBERS, imported:
Bahamas, Bermuda, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Jordan, Norway, Tanzania, Tunisia
Product Warnings & Safety Information:
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - SMALL PARTS. This game contains small pieces and is not suitable for children under 3 years of age.
A NOTE FROM LAURI:
Numbers have properties just like chemicals. These tiles remind me of chemistry. Just as chemicals have properties, so do numbers! Just like a periodical table shows properties of chemicals, these tiles have information imprinted on them and are in particular colors to show the properties of each number.
It is as important to understand number properties as it is to know number (math) facts. Our kids spend much of their introductory years learning how to manipulate numbers, often emphasized as learning "math facts". As math curriculum advances, kids start learning about properties of numbers (is it a square? is it a square root? is it a prime number? and so on), but it isn't necessarily emphasized as early as it should be. I think these pattern numbers are a great way to emphasize properties of numbers with younger kids.
To me, this set of tiles is absolutely magical. It can show numbers in simple, intermediate or complex ways. The shapes of the tiles easily allow for flexible configuration of numbers to help show and understand relationships between numbers and their properties.
These tiles are a math tool that kids can use during all their math years. We spend all our school years in math classes that slowly help us understand the various properties of numbers as math increases in complexity: what numbers do, what they represent, and relationships with each other. These tiles will help kids uncover and understand those properties as they progress through math. These tiles are a tool that will be useful during all of a child's school years.
Just like every child should have a ruler, compass, and protractor to use during their math years, they should also have a set of these tiles! They are a nice size, too! |
