How is Digi-Block different from Unifix Cubes, Base-Ten Blocks and Cuisenaire Rods?
First, the Digi-Block System is the only mathematics manipulative that is conceptually pure – it is a truly representative model of our base ten number system. Ten single blocks back into holders creating a larger block-of-ten. Ten blocks-of-ten pack to make a block-of-100. And again, ten blocks-of-100 build the block-of-1000. Because of the packing system there is no trading involved. Students naturally pack and unpack boxes, seamlessly performing all operations. For example, when students are subtracting 17 from 32, students unpack a block -of-10 thereby creating 12 single blocks. Students can then remove one block-of-10 and 7 single blocks. Student do not need to trade or exchange materials. Second, the size of the Blocks show a precise relationship between the powers of ten; that is the block of ten is exactly ten times the size of the single block; the block of one hundred is exactly 100 times the size of the single block and ten times the size of the block- of- 10.
