Vaughn cube

Vaughn cube is for children who find visualization easier rather than memorizing the multiplication tables.

Elements of Vaughn cube:

• Numbers.
• Pictures.
• Colours.

Construction of Vaughn cube:

• 4 sides = 4 walls.

Each wall has a specific color.

• Numbers are arranged as follows:

Odd numbers- Diagonal.

Even numbers- In the middle.

• Pictures-Specific arrangement based on the sound they make.

For eg: Tuna- T, and n.

              Nose -N and s.

Working with Vaughn cube:

• Create a room as shown in the image with the numbers marked.
• Ask children to practice the objects along with their position on which number the object comes.
• Make it clear for children to see that it is the same object between 3 to 4 and 4 to 3.
• Let children study the base picture and introduce the different words.
• It’s important for the children to know the orientation of the room as they will remember objects based on their location rather than the numbers they are in between. This is how the mind castle works.
• There are different charts for tables 3,4 5, etc.

• Introduce all the images in the Vaughn cube and ask children what they are along with the sounds.
• Make children practice the names of the objects and see if they can identify the sounds while saying the names of the objects.

Eg: Tuna-t,n

Deciphering the sounds and numbers:

Map the numbers from 0-9 with the sounds.

• 1 looks like t.
• N written sideways as z looks like 2.
• M written sideways looks like 3 especially small m.
• Cursive r has a hidden 4 in it.
• L is logged the bar on top of 5.
• Ch written with c inside h looks like a 6.
• Cursive k has a 7 inside it.
• Cursive f looks like an 8.
• P reversed looks like a 9.
• Practice making children map the numbers with the sounds for all the objects.
• See if children can say the numbers instead of the object name between the two numbers/on top of the number in the room.

Vaughn cube can help children learn multiplication as well as division effectively by visualizing.