Cuisenaire^® Rods Celebrate 80 Years in the Classroom
Hands-On Manipulative Revolutionized Math Learning

Vernon Hills, IL— It was 80 years ago this year that ten small wooden rods were introduced into the classroom and changed the face of mathematics education around the world.

Named for their inventor, Georges Cuisenaire, Cuisenaire Rods are a collection of ten rectangular rods of different colors and lengths.  The different, related sizes provide a continuous model that can be used to develop a wide variety of math ideas at various levels of complexity.  The unique staircase design of the Rods allows students to learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division by assigning values to each Rod.  Spatial relationships, measurement, and fractions are also more readily understood as students are able to visualize number relationships and better grasp comparative values.

Marketed exclusively by ETA/Cuisenaire, the nation's leading provider of hands-on supplemental products for math, science, and literacy education, Cuisenaire Rods have become an essential staple in classrooms everywhere.  As students literally manipulate the Rods in hands-on problem-solving activities, they are able to "see" and understand number relationships. 

It was a simple idea that led Georges Cuisenaire to develop the Rods in 1931.  A primary school teacher in Belgium with a lifelong knowledge of music, Cuisenaire took his idea from the fact that notes in music are based on specific mathematical intervals, and developed a "keyboard" for numbers with rectangular pieces of wood that varied in length from 1 to 10 cms, with each length painted a different color.  He soon discovered that not only did his students significantly improve their math skills, they had fun while they learned.

In 1952, Cuisenaire published a small booklet about the use of Cuisenaire Rods and one year later, Dr. Caleb Gattegno, a mathematics professor at the University of London became convinced that the Rods were a revolutionary way to make math education a learner-centered, hands-on experience for every pupil.  Over the next several years, Dr. Gattegno traveled throughout the United States and the world informing educators about the benefits of Cuisenaire Rods.  Since that time, the value of back-to-basics, hands-on math education has become readily adopted as the best way to engage students, and Cuisenaire Rods have consistently met the challenge.

Today, Cuisenaire Rods are available in the original wooden design, as well as plastic, jumbo size, and connecting designs.  They come in kits and trays, with lesson plans, activities, and topic cards in line with the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and have recently gone virtual with lessons specifically designed for the interactive whiteboard.

To learn more about Cuisenaire Rods and the benefits of hands-on learning, visit www.etacuisenaire.com.

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About ETA hand2mind
Headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill., ETA hand2mind is recognized as the premier publisher and pioneer of manipulatives-based education, with more than 8,000 supplemental reading, math, and science resources.  Aligned to state and national standards, these products offer hands-on educational opportunities that make learning fun for students and teaching more effective for educators.

For more information, press only:
Londa Della 800-445-5985, ext. 5219

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