Pick 10...

Pick 10 rods. Arrange them however you like. Draw them. Write what you notice.


Trays

Proposal to children: put the rods in trays. Keep them by sliding them onto the floor.

 


"In the course of this free play, the child learns many things about the rods upon which, later on, he will be building his mathematical knowledge. He will discover:
 1. that rods of the same colour are equal in length;
 2. that those of the same length have the same colour;
 3. that those with different colours have different lengths;
 4. that if he wishes to make equal lengths he can only do so by putting particular rods end to end;
 5. that the rods have been made so that whatever he constructs corresponds to the number of white rods."

Caleb Gattegno, Now Johnny Can do Arithmetic [1963]

Rods being used during general free play

Some children raided the rods boxes during their play activities in the classroom. I think it's some sort of ship.