1. Using Manipulatives Effectively

2. Overview
Manipulatives are designed to help students develop an understanding of abstract concepts through tactile, physical activity.
Manipulatives are objects that can be handled by students in a way that helps them to make tangible connections to learning.

3. Concrete
Abstract
Problem

4. Why Use Manipulatives
Research shows that students who use manipulatives perform better than those who do not.
Students who use manipulatives are better problem solvers.
Reaches students whose learning styles are ignored by traditional instruction

5. Complement to Instruction
Manipulatives can be employed to:
introduce new concepts
Reinforce concepts that have been previously taught

6. Helpful Hints
These are helpful steps to consider when implementing Math manipulatives:
Ask yourself- what is the most efficient way to teach?
Assess students’ prior knowledge and skills.
Introduce/ define the concept you are teaching.
Demonstrate manipulatives & how to use them (hand out & lead students through process).
Discuss what the class has done and how the manipulative proved useful. The goal should be to scaffold away from the use of manipulatives.
Katie Kibler and Barbara Williams

7. Commonly Used Manipulatives
Base 10 Blocks
Elementary Concepts
Counting
Addition/Subtraction
Multiplication

8. Fraction Circles Elementary Concepts Basic fractional parts
Equivalent fractions
Addition and subtraction of fractions

9. Cuisenaire Rods Elementary Concepts Addition/Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Fractional Math

10. Geoboard Elementary Concepts Geometry Measurement Perimeter Area
Polygons
Proportion
Measurement

11. Pattern Blocks Elementary Concepts Spatial sense Equivalent Fractions
Tessellations

12. Tangrams
Elementary Concepts
Spatial reasoning
Critical thinking

13. Web-Based Manipulative
Software that displays objects that can be used similar to manipulatives provides an “endless” supply of potential materials.
Interactive mathematics web pages-

14. Suggestions Give students practice time.
- Clearly relate manipulatives to abstract concepts-such as “subtraction”. It is crucial that children make the connection between the conceptual work done with manipulatives and the procedural tasks this work is intended to support.
Make sure manipulatives are being used correctly and in a meaningful way.
Keep all math manipulatives in a “math box”, allow children to choose those manipulatives that they feel comfortable using and that they believe will assist them in solving problems.
- Manipulatives are not the exclusive domain of mathematics. They can be used in many subject areas to aid in student comprehension. For example, modeling clay can aid in the understanding of geography.
Katie Kibler and Barbara Williams