This approach utilizes Algebricks colored rods, which are a model for the rational number system. There are 10 lengths of rods, each rod increases by a unit of 1, and each rod has a different color. The smallest rod is white, and the next rod is red. This alone is enough to generate multiple mathematical awarenesses. Students can begin by saying, "Two white rods are as long as one red rod." This statement can become, w+w=r, 1+1=2, 2w=1r, 1/2r=w, and so on. The language of mathematics is introduced after the students have understood what their rods have shown. The rods work for portraying "basic" math, as well as high-level situations such as Pythagorean Theorum.
Geometry has an additional tool called the Geoboard, which consists of pegs in a wooden board and colored elastics which can be stretched to form geometric shapes.
