Flexitables are no ordinary multiplication tables or numeracy charts as they are tactile and made of soft flexible plastic. They consist of a multiplication, an addition, a number and a fraction grid all printed on soft flexible plastic that has vertical and horizontal channels. They can then be folded again and again - flexitables have a far greater life than paper or cardboard products.
Number grids are widely used, of course. The difference is that Flexitables are made of soft, pliable PVC that children can touch, hold and manipulate. "These conceptual tools are fun to use and give children a sense of control and ownership of numbers." (TES, May 2007)
You can download a free 4 page Teachers Notes sheet using these links:
Flexitables: Multiplication and Division
Flexitables: Addition and Subtraction
Flexitables: Fractions and Decimals
The red numbers that run across the top of the grid and down the far left-hand side act as the multipliers and multiplicands in multiplication. In division they act as the divisors and quotients. For the multiplication/division table all the children have to do is fold the table under and alongside the two numbers they are working with. So, for example if the question was ‘what is 4 x 4?' the children would fold the table under the number 4 running horizontally from the left and next to the number 4 running vertically from the top. The answer (16) is then shown in the bottom right-hand corner.
Price: £2.50
The 100 Number Square was added to the range in response to the many requests for it that we have received from teachers. Based on the Flexitable format the 100 Square Grid is printed with the same lead free inks on PVC to give you a pliable table that is easy for students to manipulate. The columns of odd figures are printed in green whilst the even numbers are printed in blue to help children gain familiarity with the numbers 1-100 and to discover basic number patterns
Price: £2.50
A double sided grid!
This grid shows the relationship between fractions and percentages on the front face with the equivalent decimal values on the reverse. By folding the grid down the vertical channels children can discover that one quarter is the same as 25% and 0.25 etc and by folding the grids again and again they can find the equivalent fractions, percentages and decimals that make up 1.
Price: £2.50
Using the flexitable to add 4 & 3
a) Look along the top row and find the 4.
b) Fold the table from the top to bottom, vertically, back under the numbers 1 - 4.
c) Keep the table folded and look down the left hand column for the number 3.
d) Fold the table up, horizontally, under this row.
e) In the right hand corner find the answer 7
Price: £2.50
