Math Block Set Guide Math Block Set Guide | Page 5

How many and how many make 10?
Guess
Composition & Decomposition of Numbers
how many
There are two ways to see the structure of a number – composition and decomposition. Composition is the way of
seeing the number “7” as “3 and 4 make 7,” whereas decomposition is the are
way of hidden.
seeing “7” as “7 is made of 3
and 4.” Both of these ways are crucial in learning addition and subtraction. Particularly, understanding the structure
of the number “10” is essential in grasping the fundamentals of base-10 concept, and can be used for addition and
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subtraction greater than 10.
and
and
Have 10 math blocks ready. Hide some inside the case and have students figure out how many are hidden
by looking
Let’s
make 10
at the ones that are not cased (refer to Image 1). In the beginning, you’ll want to use the clear case (Image 2). When
students become used to the idea, switch to the opaque case (Image 3).
How many mo
How to Use the Japan Math Block Set
n i t Image 1
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Date
Try
and
First, let’s play with
!
Let’s see...
4 and what
number
make 10?
4
Guess
how many
are hidden.
2
10
Let’s Play a Game!
Let’s make 10!
How many more do we need to make 10?
Why Choose the Japan Math Block Set?
and
Students can visually grasp the structure of 10!
4
8
6
4
3
9
Image 2
Image 3
and
and
and
Since composition and decomposition of 10 is important for numbers 10 or greater, manipulation of the blocks can
and
and
familiarize students with the structure of 10 by making them see how many more is needed to make 10.
Students can instantly compose and decompose 10!
Un i t
and
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By taking steps – first using the clear case, then using the opaque case – students can slowly learn the idea of
9
composition
and decomposition of 10.
and
3
and
Students can instantly compose and decompose numbers up to 10!
Understanding what 10 is made up of through the math block manipulation makes it easier for students to instantly
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find, for example, that “It is 7, so I can make 10 with 3” or “10 can be split into 2 and 8, so it is 2.” This is the result
and
and
of manipulating the educational material, the Japan Math Block set, by their own hands and actually experiencing and
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making
sense of the structure of 10. Students can see and feel the numbers that construct 10 from multiple perspectives.
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For more information, check out japan-math.com
and
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