The best math manipulative definition describes these as tools to support math instruction. Math manipulatives make math fun and hands-on. Children at all grade levels enjoy using these concrete tools to make sense of problems and develop a conceptual understanding. The grade-level standards will determine the best manipulatives for that grade level.
Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys for students to use in your classroom to cultivate a positive classroom community in mathematics. You can also sign up for other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
I love to use different math manipulatives in my classroom. They provide students an opportunity to make an abstract concept concrete. For example, in first grade this week, we used our ten frames and two-color counters to solve our addition and subtraction word problems. Students could act out what was happening in these problems and make sense of the problem. Eventually, students can draw their counters and write equations to solve these problems. This is also an easy way for me to differentiate a lesson.
Math Manipulative Definition
Math tools or manipulatives are the physical objects we use in our math instruction. The grade-level standards will determine what resources we use in our math classroom.
Math manipulatives make math fun; all children enjoy using these concrete tools to make sense of math problems.
What Are Manipulatives in Math?
Manipulatives give students ways to construct physical models of abstract mathematical ideas. It helps them make sense of problems and understand mathematical vocabulary.
Students can use these tools to try out different strategies and problem-solve. Most students enjoy using these physical objects to solve problems.
Using Math Manipulatives in the Classroom
Most concepts are best taught using concrete materials when first introduced. This is called the concrete stage of learning. Eventually, you can move toward the representational stage and then the abstract age.
While there is an order in terms of concrete being most supportive and abstract being least supportive, you don’t have to move strictly in a “one-at-a-time” linear fashion through the three levels. Instead, your goal is to build connections between concrete, representational and abstract so that you can create a web of understanding for your students.
Some concrete materials are more supportive than others, and it is not at all wrong to use two or three different concrete materials to illuminate a concept. The more tools and representations you use, the richer your students’ web of understanding will become.
What are the Tools Used in Mathematics?
Here are some examples of how tools can help students with first-grade math:
- Students can use ten frames (and double ten frames) and two color counters to solve basic facts and word problems.
- One hundred twenty charts can help students to extend the counting sequence and solve computation problems.
- Unifix cubes help students understand place value and add and subtract.
- 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes help students reason with shapes and their attributes.
- Clocks help students to tell and write time.
Math Manipulatives Elementary
When introducing a new math tool to students, providing them with a few minutes of exploration time is a good idea. This allows students to get an opportunity to “play” with the new tools. After this initial exploration time, these are “ math tools” to help us learn and should be used to help solve math problems.
In the younger grades, you can also have an exploration math center where students can have more time exploring math tools.
Math Tools Online
There are several places online to find online math tools. There are several benefits to using virtual math manipulatives. For instance, the setup and cleanup of online math tools is a lot easier.
In addition, these tools are perfect for virtual or online learning. Students are not physically touching the math tools, but they provide students with the ability to model problems.
I also like to use these online math tools with my interactive whiteboard in whole class or small group situations so the students can see me modeling problems with math tools.
Math Manipulatives Virtual
Didax Virtual Math Manipulatives
This site has 19 different virtual math manipulatives: number lines, rekenreks, dice, spinners, fractions tiles and number lines, math balance, two-color counters, 120 board, color tiles, base ten blocks, pattern blocks, place value disks, geoboards, prime factor tiles, unifix cubes, ten frames, and algebra tiles.
In addition, it has instructions and free activities to use with the virtual manipulatives.
This site has 13 different virtual math manipulatives: number pieces, clocks, fractions, geoboards, vocabulary cards, money, number chart, number line, number frames (5-100), a number rack, a partial product finder, and pattern shapes.
These free apps are based on the visual models featured in Bridges in Mathematics. Apps are available in multiple versions: a web app for all modern browsers and downloadable versions for specific operating systems and devices (such as Apple iOS for iPad). You can also create problems using these tools and share them with students.
Storing Tools Used in Math Class
Finding ways to store all your materials and supplies to be easily accessible can eliminate delays and disruptions and encourage students to use them. For example, in poorly arranged classrooms, students spend a lot of time waiting for materials.
Math Tools
Try focusing on finding creative ways to take your storage vertical. For example, instead of getting a low shelf to the ground, find a taller one and use the top shelves to store things that students don’t need to reach every day.
Instead of having every activity and tool available for students from the beginning of the year through the end, try rotating supplies based on the taught skills. Different tools can bring some new life into the math classroom.
I like to have all my math supplies stored in clear plastic bins with labels in a cabinet in my classroom. This way, I can easily find what we need and am more likely to use the materials.
In addition, I like to have my students sit in groups with a 3 or 4-drawer plastic storage cabinet in the middle. Then, I place math tools within these drawers. This saves time passing out supplies, and students have what they need. You can also put a bucket on top with materials for the day’s lessons or other materials they need.
Math Center Organization
Math centers often require several manipulatives, which makes organization very important. Students need to clean up these games and centers on their own, so having a system is vital. To keep supplies from being lost or put away in the wrong places, there should be clear instructions for how students must clean up when they are done.
Classroom centers and their success comes down to careful planning and proper organization.
It might mean having a laminated picture of which supplies go in which places or some modeling time at the beginning of the day to walk through clean-up procedures for younger students. Color coding materials can also help.
Many of the resources I make have digital slides and printables. I like to print, put in a plastic sleeve with some counters for an easy center. For example, this subtraction activity is great for the beginning of the year.
Top Math Manipulatives
Ten Frames
A ten frame is a rectangle with ten equal spaces. It has five spaces on top and five on the bottom. It is used to support the development of the important landmark numbers five and ten. Ten frames are often positioned horizontally and filled with counters from left to right and top to bottom.
Ten frames are a fantastic tool used in preschool to 2nd grade to help build an understanding of counting, place value, adding, subtracting, and more. You use counters or math manipulatives to represent numbers less than or equal to ten on the frame. Check out this link to find a free Ten Frames Template. Ten Frames Free Printable.
A double ten frame is two ten frames used to support the landmark numbers ten and twenty development. It is also designed to help addition strategies (such as making a ten) and place-value ideas (such as teen numbers made up of one ten frame and then some more). Check out this link for a double ten frame printable or digital version. Double Ten Frames Printable
Or try out these seasonal ten frames and use them with counters.
Read more… How to Teach Addition Easily with Ten Frames in Math.
Two Color Counters
Another must-have manipulative is the two-color (red and yellow) counters. They have many uses and help little learners learn to count, make patterns, add, and subtract. In addition, they are an essential tool for many 1st-grade math concepts.
Students use them for independent practice and help solve addition and subtraction problems. They can be used with ten and double ten frames.
120 Charts
One hundred twenty charts are essential for teaching children to count in multiple ways. They are visual representations of numbers in order and are filled with patterns children should be encouraged to find.
One hundred twenty charts are important for whole-class lessons, independent practice, and games. I like to have a large hundred chart on the wall and then individual ones for students to use.
In first grade, students must extend the counting sequence to 120. In addition, they begin to understand place value and add within 100. One hundred twenty charts are a great tool to use with these lessons.
Unfix Cubes
Unifix cubes are the colored cubes that connect. They visually demonstrate many number concepts, such as counting, grouping, adding, and taking away.
They also work great for comparing sets, understanding the meaning of the equal sign, measuring, and creating sets of 10.
Dice and Playing Cards
They are great tools to have on hand for math games and activities. For example, students can use these to practice their addition and subtraction facts.
With the math manipulative definition being any tool that can support math instruction, dice and playing cards make a perfect match.
Number Lines or Number Paths
Number lines are important for many number concepts, such as counting, sequencing, and number recognition. Students can be taught how to solve addition and subtraction problems by jumping up or down the number line.
A human number line can be created on the floor with tape and used for practice and games.
Geometric Solids
Having actual geometric solids that can be held helps children learn what 3D shapes are and their features. In addition, creating an anchor chart with 3D shapes listed and recording the properties of each together helps students understand the differences between the shapes.
Students can use these shapes to compose or build new shapes.
Balance Scale
A balance scale helps students understand the meaning of the equal sign. Therefore, I like to model using the scale what equal means and make a connection to the equal sign. I use a balance scale with this equal sign resource.
Read more… How to Effectively Teach Equal or Not Equal Sign in Math Class Today.
Clocks
In first grade, students tell and write time in hours and half hours. Therefore, it is important to use a clock so students can see what happens to the hour hand as the minute hand moves.
I suggest having a large demonstration clock, while my students have their own small clocks. This way, we can count by fives as the minute hand moves around the clock and understand how to read a clock.
Whiteboards and Plastic Sleeves
Mini whiteboards and plastic sleeves are fantastic items that I use daily. Students can independently work on their boards or sleeves in small groups or whole class lessons.
I use plastic sleeves in all my centers so they can easily be reused, saving time and paper.
Differentiating Using The Math Manipulative Definition
Math tools are a way to differentiate a math lesson. For example, you can have some students working in the concrete state and using manipulatives, while other students are working in the representational and abstract stage.
Using math tools can differentiate any math lesson with little work. It is ok that every student does not progress through the stages at the same rate. The goal is to build a conceptual understanding of math concepts, and some students will stay in the concrete stage longer than other students.
Any tools that can help students with learning math concepts can fit the math manipulative definition.
Math Tools for Elementary Students
Math manipulatives are valuable tools for teachers and students. They provide a hands-on way in which to explore and learn. When children use these, they learn differently than when they only listen or watch a lesson. They are more engaged in the learning and have more fun which helps students enjoy math and form more positive mindsets.
Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys for students to use in your classroom to cultivate a growth mindset in mathematics. You can also sign up for other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
Hands-on learning helps students develop a deeper understanding of concepts. What are some of your favorite math tools? The math manipulative definition that says it is any object that helps teach math allows teachers to get creative!
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