Originally known as Cuisenaire rods, Sumstix were invented by a Belgian school teacher in the 1930s and introduced to the rest of the world in the 1950s. They were popular in Australian schools in the 1970s-1980s but fell out of favour through the nineties mostly because of insufficient teacher training in their use.
Why Use Sumstix?
Numbers are abstract.
Sumstix are tangible.
Numbers are abstract symbols that represent quantities. This can be hard for a child to understand. Sumstix give the child an obvious visual representation of the “quantitativeness” of numbers.
We can call a blue stick “nine” because it is the same length as nine white (“one”) sticks placed side-by-side.
Sumstix are versatile. This one pattern can represent:
8 > 4
1/2 of 8 is 4
8 – 4 = ?
4 + ? = 8
Sumstix make learning number facts easy
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The following Sumstix patterns are each worth four number facts.
The above patterns make the relationships between operations easy to see and intuitive. This not only makes learning the number facts easier, it also lays a foundation for algebra studies.
Develop algebraic thinking skills
It’s very easy to use Sumstix patterns and their related equations to show a child how to solve simple linear equations:
Develop problem solving and logical thinking skills
Using Sumstix the child learns to work systematically and to think logically. They also have an intuitive tool to use when solving problems. The concrete nature of the rods makes it easier for the child to generalise what they have learned so that they can apply their knowledge to a wide array of problems.
Explain higher level concepts
Sumstix can be used to illustrate many higher level mathematical concepts. These include but are not limited to:
- place value and numeration
- fractions/ratio/percents
- algebra
- geometry
Develop spacial reasoning
Sumstix are an excellent tool for developing spacial reasoning. This can combine powerfully with their colouring to help children learn their number facts effortlessly.
Many children develop the ability to visualise the sticks. They can then use these mental images to perform aritmetic operations in their “mind’s eye” without the need to resort to unit counting or other sub-optimal strategies.
The bottom line…
Ready to give Sumstix a go?
