how to use color tiles

[Mebsy]

We are starting K this year and doing a very relaxed play-based math. I'm trying to decide whether I need to buy color tiles or not. We've got pattern blocks and unifix cubes already. I keep reading about how color tiles are such a versatile math manipulative, but I can't really find specifics on how you use them. Can anyone tell me? Also, is there a website where you can find different activities to do with different manipulatives? I assume most curriculums usually tell you how to use them, but we aren't using a curriculum this year.

[meetoo]

What are color tiles?

[dubatatamama]

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I had to google it myself

I am curious about these myself...hope you get some good replies!

[dubatatamama]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CCgQ9QEwAQ

I had to google it myself

I am curious about these myself...hope you get some good replies!

[AAK]

There isn't anything magic about these. You can do anything with a bag of m&ms that you would do with these tiles (or mixed dried beans or legos).

Make patterns
count them
Illustrate basic operations (4 reds and 5 blues equal ???? If I have five groups of 4 tiles, how many do I have??? Can I share the reds between 3 people equally? How many would everyone get, how many left over??? Divide the pile of reds into 4 groups--now touch one group --that would be 1/4, etc)
sort them
turn them into bar graphs to compare quantity
estimate
compare inequalities


Basically, they are an easy way to make math "hands on". They are uniform in size, not tempting to eat , and store easily. But, really, you can use almost anything around the house and accomplish the same thing.


Amy

[StormySar]

I dont know what they ar either but could you just use those free paint chips from home improvement stores?