App Profile: Multi Base Blocks Applications

Multi Base Blocks Applications contains four apps to help young children proceed from the concepts of trading and place value through to the written algorithms for addition and subtraction. Preschool children can practice trades and learn about place value and grouping using the applications Win A Block and Trade A Block.

School aged children can use the applications Addition and Subtraction to bridge from performing the operations with blocks to carrying out the operations with symbols. On the same screen, students model the problem with multi-base blocks and are guided to perform trades and moves to arrive at the answer. While the students move the blocks, symbols are adjusted to match the student moves through to the final answer.

Parents or teachers can help children by making choices concerning grouping size, how many digits or columns in a problem, repeating a problem, creating a specific problem or generating a random problem. The applications are not intended to teach operations in another base, but to help children become familiar with the algorithmic processes so that they can more easily learn addition and subtraction in base 10.