Using Mathematical Manipulative Tools in the Classroom

What are Mathematical Manipulative Tools?

Manipulative materials are concrete models or objects that involve mathematics concepts. The most effective tools
are ones that appeal to several senses, and that can be touched and moved around by the students (not demonstrations
of materials by the teacher). The manipulative materials should relate to the students real world (Heddens, 1997).

Manipulatives

Some common tools used in elementary mathematics instruction.

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Base 10 Blocks
Base 10 Blocks come with units (one cube), longs (made up of 10 units), flats (made up of
10 longs or 100 units), and cubes (made up of 10 flats or 1000 units).
Base 10 blocks can be used for many math procedures:
o Introducing the concept of place value
o Reading and writing numbers
o Zero as a place holder
o Addition
o Subtraction
o Multiplication
o Division
o Fractions
o Decimals/operations with decimals
o Expanded numeration
o Counting/skip counting
o Geometry (area and perimeter)
o Probability, ratios, proportions
See: http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/base10ideas.html for more detail and ideas

Cuisenaire Rods

Cuisenaire Rods

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 Cuisenaire Rods are colored wooden or plastic rods that have values from one to ten and are
colored by the number they represent:
o White rod = 1 cm.
Red rod = 2 cm.
Light green rod = 3 cm.
Lavender rod = 4 cm.
Yellow rod = 5 cm.
Dark green rod = 6 cm.
Black rod = 7 cm.
Brown rod = 8 cm.
Blue rod = 9 cm.
Orange rod = 10 cm.
Cuisenaire Rods can be used for:
o Probability and statistics
o Ratios, proportions
o Fractions
o Addition
o Subtraction

Pattern Blocks
Pattern Blocks are one centimeter thick multicolored blocks that come in six shapes:
hexagons, squares, trapezoids, triangles, parallelograms, and rhombi. Each shape is a
different color.

Pattern Blocks

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 Pattern blocks can be used for:
o Fractions
o Patterns
o Geometry
o Symmetry
o Addition
o Multiplication
o Equations
o Ratios
See the following website for more information and
detail: http://www.netrox.net/~labush/nctm.htm#Pattern

Unifix Cubes
Unifix Cubes are colorful, interlocking cubes that link in only one way. They come in ten
solid colors that make them quite visual for demonstrations and easily allow for
patterning and sorting.

Unifix cubes can be used for:

o Counting/skip counting
o Addition
o Subtraction
o Multiplication
o Division
o Patterns
o Number sense
o Equality

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 o Fact families
o Perfect squares
o Graphing
o Place value
o Fractions
o Measurement
o Probability
See the following website for more detail: http://www.netrox.net/~labush/nctm.htm#Unifix

Hundred Chart
A Hundred Chart is a series of 100 squares in a 10 x10 arrangement that forms a larger
square. The small squares are labeled from 1 to 100.
A hundred Chart can be used for:
o Visual counting/skip counting
o Visual addition and subtraction
o Fractions
o Decimals
o Percents
See the following website for more
detail: http://www.christiancottage.com/articles/HundredChart.html

Snap Cubes
Snap Cubes are similar to Unifix Cubes but they link on all sides (six ways). They come in
a variety of colors
Snap cubes can be used for:
o Counting/skip counting
o Addition
o Subtraction
o Multiplication
o Division
o Patterns
o Number sense
o Equality
o Fact families
o Perfect squares
o Graphing
o Place value
o Fractions
o Measurement
o Probability

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 o Geometry
o 3D shapes

Fraction Bars
Fraction Bars are colored cubes or tiles that are proportional and represent whole, halves,
thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, eighths, tenths and twelfths.
A set usually includes:
o one red whole
o two pink halves
o three orange thirds
o four yellow fourths
o five green fifths
o six teal (blue-green) sixths
o eight blue eighths
o ten purple tenths
o twelve black twelfths
They can be used for
o Fractions
Fraction number sense
Equivalent fractions
Operations with fractions
Mixed numbers
o Proportion
o Ratios

Color 1 Tiles
These are 1 x1 square color tiles. They usually can be purchased with a mix of four
colors.
They can be used for:
o Counting and skip counting
o Patterns
o Multiplication
o Division
o Addition
o subtraction
o Geometry (perimeter and area)
o Place value
o Measurement
o Graphing and probability
See the following for more detail and ideas: http://www.learningresources.com/text/pdf/2218book.pdf

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Two-Sided Counters
Two-Sided Counters are usually circular chips with different colors on each side.
They can be used for:
o Integers
o Addition
o Subtraction
o Multiplication
o Division
o Probability
o Ratios
o Percentages

10 Frames
Ten frames are a rectangle made up of ten squares (5 by 2). They can have dots on them
representing values 1-10 or can be blank.
They can be used for:
o Addition
o Subtraction
o Grouping
o Counting
o Place value

100 Beads
100 Beads are made by stringing 100 beads on a string. They are made up of 2 colors that
alternate every ten.
They can be used for
o Counting and Skip Counting
o Basic math operations

Beans and Cup

Beans and Cup comprise of a cup and beans. The teacher will decide how many beans to
put in a cup for designated problems.
They can be used for:
o Counting
o Addition
o Subtraction
o Multiplication
o Division

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Other Useful Mathematics Tools that can be implemented in the classroom are:
Number Line
Dice
Calculators
Decks of Cards
Tangrams
Geared Clocks
Fraction Circles
24 Game
Place Value Practice Boards