Base Ten Blocks represent place value on a board using blocks, rods, flats, and cubes. They are built in isometric perspective to show volume and dimension, closely replicating physical base ten sets.
Watch a Base Ten Block tutorial: https://youtu.be/N0oAybndjhA
In this article
- Where to find it
- About Base Ten Blocks
- Working with Base Ten Blocks
- Display size
Where to find it
Base Ten Blocks can be found at the second position from the top of the left side menu.
About Base Ten Blocks
The isometric perspective represents volume and dimension rather than a flat outline, so a rod, flat, or cube reads with the same depth a physical block would have. The angle stays fixed as pieces are placed, so a rod set next to a flat reads at the same scale without any extra adjustment.
Working with Base Ten Blocks
Click and drag any block, rod, flat, or cube from the menu onto the board. Selecting a piece brings up a toolbar with the following options:
Colour
The first icon changes the piece's colour.
Duplicate
The second icon duplicates the piece, creating a second copy of the same object.
Combine and Split
The third icon (diverging arrows) splits a piece into its immediate smaller part: a cube splits into flats, a flat into rods, a rod into blocks. It always trades down one level at a time; a cube won't split directly into rods or blocks.
Selecting multiple pieces that can combine into the next value brings up a new option, represented by a converging arrows icon. Clicking combines your selected pieces, and any remainder is left as-is — 12 rods, for instance, combine into 1 flat and 2 rods.
Axis/Perspective
The cube icon switches a rod or flat between standing and flat orientation. This doesn't apply to cubes or single blocks. Changing orientation only changes how a piece reads on the board — its value stays the same.
Display size
In the manipulative menu, click the gear icon to bring up a slider on the right side of the screen. This resizes all Base Ten Blocks on the board at once — individual pieces can't be resized on their own, so a set already arranged keeps its relative proportions.