Manufacturer Name:
Zillio, Inc.
Product Name:
Customer Quote: I have a student who frequently asks for a break with each math problem. I brought in the mountain and he didn’t take a break for an entire 30 min…You bet the mountain is going to be a staple with us! -- 4th grade special education teacher, Cumming, GA
Product Images:
Cognitive Description
The directions feature over 50 games with built-in differentiated levels, so that children of varying abilities can play and learn from each other.
The inviting and intriguing multi-colored mountain is tactilely pleasing and encourages children to explore colors and one-to-one number correspondence recognition.
Successful play can be achieved by children at all levels of mathematical understanding. Self-esteem easily follows.
The Mini Mountain presents numbers and their multiples in a visual way to foster understanding and learning.
There are many game variations to heighten a child’s understanding of math. Games can be chosen to challenge a child at a level that is comfortable and motivating.
Math concepts are taught in a very visual and kinesthetic manner. Children are better able to learn, retain and recall information when several senses are involved.
Skills
The Zillio Mini Mountain helps children develop basic math skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division through answers equaling up to 36.
This game system promotes an introductory understanding of fractions, percents, and decimals.
Zillio helps children develop a deeper understanding of numbers, through problem solving and application.
Zillio promotes “out of the box” thinking through numerous answers, options within play, and ability to differentiate to children at their different levels.
Fine motor skills are heightened as children manipulate small foam number boards and place them on the mountain. Note: Fine motor skills and dexterity are needed to successfully move the small pieces into place.
Turn taking, patience and social interaction are all practiced during play.
Play Ideas
Have your child prove their math concepts on a piece of paper to solidify their mathematical understanding of the concepts being explored.
Model higher level thinking so children learn there is more than one way to hike up the Zillio Mini Mountain. For instance, during one turn use the three dice to add and multiply – e.g. if the roll is 3, 5 and 6. Add 3+5=8; then multiply 8 by the remaining number, 6. Then move up to 48 on the 6’s mountain. Or add 5+6=11; then multiply 11x3=33 and move up to 33 on the mountain.
Play in a team and designate certain jobs to each child (such as thinker, prover and placer of foam pieces); designate according to abilities or rotate jobs each turn.
Have children prove why a multiplication fact is true by showing groupings on the step or counting individual steps to prove the larger facts.
Have children practice multiplication facts on the mountain to gain a better understanding of multiplication. Each section of the mountain can be used to practice multiplication and because the each section has grooved mini steps; children can check their own work.
Adaptation Ideas
Make up or use existing homework word problems to solve using a hands-on approach with the Mini Mountain.
Have your child practice division, multiplication, addition or subtraction facts for 5-10 minutes then play a game using one of them.
Communicative Description
Communication between players evolves during play and through the use of concrete math problems that have definitive answers but also can have numerous positions/solutions on the Zillio Mini Mountain.
There are many game variations to heighten a child’s understanding of math. Games can be chosen to challenge a child at a level that is comfortable and motivating.
Math concepts are taught in a very visual and kinesthetic manner. Children are better able to learn, retain and recall information when several senses are involved.
Skills
Social skills are enhanced by working in teams or against each other to “climb” the Zillio Mini Mountain. As children play the games, their language is bolstered by the concrete ideas of math, making social interaction easier for those children who struggle with social language or language retrieval.
Receptive and expressive language processing can be enhanced by playing with others and taking turns.
Patience is enhanced as children solve problems and carefully decide their next moves.
Teamwork can be encouraged as children play together on common goals.
Play Ideas
Have your children solve the problems on paper then explain to you orally why the problem works and what their reasoning is for placing the foam piece on a particular step.
Play in a team and designate certain jobs to each child (such as thinker, prover and placer of foam piece); designate according to abilities or rotate jobs each turn. This naturally encourages language between players.
Adaptation Ideas
Solve word problems (either made up or existing homework problems) using a hands-on approach with the Mini Mountain. This may help children with communication disorders understand math more tangibly and feel heightened success. Encourage the children to explain their rationale for certain moves
Sensory Description
The directions feature over 50 games with built-in differentiated levels, so children of varying abilities can play and learn from each other.
The inviting bold colors and intriguing textures of the Mini Mountain capture children’s attentions and encourage initial exploration while the many well designed games help them delve into mathematics in an innovative manner.
Math concepts are taught in a very visual and kinesthetic manner. Children are better able to learn, retain and recall information when several senses are involved.
Skills
Fine motor skills are heightened as children manipulate small foam number boards and place them on the Mini Mountain. Note: fine motor skills and dexterity are needed to successfully move the small pieces into place.
The Zillio Mini Mountain helps children develop basic math skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division through answers equaling up to 36.
This math system promotes an introductory understanding of fractions, percents, and decimals.
Zillio helps children develop a deeper understanding of numbers, through problem solving and application.
Zillio promotes “out of the box” thinking through numerous answers, options within play, and ability to differentiate to children at their different levels.
Successful play is achieved by children at all levels of mathematical understanding. Self-esteem easily follows.
Play Ideas
Decide ahead of time, if you encounter an idea that is not included in the directions that you will either allow all ideas not specified in the directions or not allow, or designate a person who decides the answer.
Have children play together on teams: (i.e. One person picks the algorithm (+,-, /, *) and the other do the math-then they switch.)
The Mini Mountain consists of twelve individual staircases. Have children pick a staircase that they will play on.
Adaptation Ideas
Designate one child the math checker, to ensure accuracy.
Physical Description
The soft number foam pieces are desirable to touch and place into the slots on the Zillio Mini Mountain.
The Zillio Mini Mountain provides a large space to explore multiplication groupings.
Successful play is achieved by children at all levels of mathematical understanding. Self-esteem easily follows.
The base of the Zillio Mini Mountain is a lazy Susan-type revolving tray. This enables children to easily access all sides of the mountain while maintaining one position for play.
Math concepts are taught in a very visual and kinesthetic manner. Children are better able to learn, retain and recall information when several senses are involved.
Skills
Fine motor skills are heightened as children manipulate small foam number boards and place them on the mountain. Note: Fine motor skills and dexterity are needed to successfully move the small pieces into place.
Eye-hand coordination is used to place the small foam squares onto the Zillio Mini Mountain.
Reaching and arm extension are used during the games to place the foam pieces onto the staircases of the Mini Mountain.
Play Ideas
Play in a team and designate certain jobs to each child (such as thinker, prover and placer of foam piece); designate according to abilities or rotate jobs each turn.
Have children practice multiplication facts (times tables) on the mountain to gain a better understanding of multiplication. Each staircase of the mountain can be used to practice multiplication because each has grooved mini steps for children to check their own work.
Adaptation Ideas
Add self adhesive Velcro to the pieces and to the spaces on the mountain to help children execute deliberate movements.
DESCRIPTION: Approx. Price: $99.95Box Age Range: 4+ yrs# of Pieces: Over 100Washability: Surface WipeStorability: Directions: Extensive Play Locations: Indoor Adjustability: Levels of Play: Five or More LevelsBatteries: None needed
Features and Benefits
Innovative Many Accessories High Quality Connects/Assembles Securely Detailed Provides Visual Cues Hands-on Approach to Learning Includes Activity Guide to Expand Play Provides Pretend Play Opportunities Different Shapes and/or Colors Game Variations/Many Levels of Play Self-Correcting Clearly Written Instructions Color-Coded Incorporates Fundamental Learning Skills Fosters Imagination/Promotes Creativity Inviting Due to Uniqueness Wide Age Range Visually Stimulating Tactilely Stimulating High Contrasting Colors Durable
Developmental processes promoted
Fine Motor Hand and Finger Grasp Eye-Hand Coordination Patience Reaching/Arm Extension Social Interaction Problem Solving Finger and Hand Control and Dexterity Precision Motor Planning Self Esteem Visual Discrimination Creativity Turn Taking Matching Sequential Thought Cooperative Hand Movements Counting/Beginning Math Visual Acuity Color Recognition and Identification Attention to Detail Strategic Thinking Number Concepts Cause and Effect Sorting and Classification Memory and Recall Visual Processing Visual Tracking Visual Attention
