1. Math Manipulatives
How to use them to teach, in centers, and keeping them organized.
K-2 SUMS Training

2. Why should we use manipulatives?
When manipulatives are used, the senses are brought into learning: students can touch and move objects to make visual representations of mathematical concepts.
A Paraphrase of a Chinese proverb:
'Tell me mathematics and I forget; show me mathematics and I may remember; involve me... and I will understand mathematics.
“ Through presenting an activity with the three components (activity, technology, formalizing) we not only give students with different learning styles different ways to see a problem, we give them the extra time they may require for learning…Time and experience in class enrich an activity: students can learn from their experiences and connect the mathematics to those experiences.”
- Suzanne Alejandre

3. How to Use Manipulatives In your Teaching
Manipulatives need to be accessible to students at all times.
Students need to feel confident and comfortable in using manipulatives to help solve problems (this comes with lots of practice and use of manipulatives)
Allow time for students to explore and problem solve through individual, collaborative, or whole group methods.
Journal about manipulatives:
Topics include:
Compare and contrast
Summarize an activity
Inference ways they can be used
Why do should we use manipulatives?
Details – describe a manipulative and how they are used to help you solve problems.

4. How to Use Manipulatives In your Teaching Cont.
Teach with “opened” and “closed” activities
Opened : Present the problem and let the students solve with no direction or methods taught
Closed: Present the problem and show how to solve and provide practice

5. Virtual Manipulatives
Use virtual manipulatives. Technology is another key to incorporate sensory learning.

6. Organizing manipulatives
Bins of individual tools

7. Organization Cont. } for individual boxes
Baskets of manipulatives with other materials needed
Three drawer cart or bin
Individual student bins
Color code items
Number code items
} for individual boxes

8. Using Manipulatives in Centers
Set ground rules for use of manipulatives in centers
Do not allow center time to become play time
Students should “explore” with new manipulatives before expected to solve problems with them
Have a specific task for students to do in each center.
Task Cards – See examples
Let’s Create our Own!