Category: Nonlinguistic Representations

Tite: #12 Math Manipulatives

Time Needed: 15-20 Minutes
Room Arrangement: Depends on how you use them. Could use them individually, in groups or in
math centers.
Materials: Various math manipulatives such as base ten blocks, play money, counters, dice,
unifix cubes, geoboards, tangrams, spinners, patterns blocks, etc. Paper and pencil for written
observations, or worksheets.
Process/Directions: Show students the manipulative (introduce or remind them), tell students
what they are and what they are representative of. If you have a worksheet, do a couple of the
problems with the students together as a class first. Make sure the students are understanding the
concept and how to use the manipulatives. Once you have done a few problems, ask the students
to complete the worksheets individually or with partners (or with a group). Walk around and
make sure they are on task and help them if needed.
Example of when I would use this:
When learning about how to count money-play money.
Learning about temperature-thermometers.
Use base ten blocks to teach students about adding, subtracting, multiplication,
place value, etc.
Counters are good for addition and subtraction of small numbers, grouping, and
struggling learners or special needs learners.
Dice are good for probability, addition, and even place value if you have math
dice with actual numbers on them.
Unifix cubes are helpful for many activities. They can be used as counters, to
represent columns, patterns, sorting, probability, and fact families just to name a few.
Geoboards are used to manipulate geometric figures. They can be used to study
perimeter, area and other characteristics of triangles, squares and other shapes.
Tangrams would be used in a math center as an activity for students to work on
their problem solving and logic skills.
Spinners would be used for probability, I have also seen spinners used to generate
math equations when you spin them such as spin once, and you get a 4, spin again and
you get a 9, so you have to solve 4x9.
Examples of each are below, as well as an example of a worksheet that might be used in
conjunction with base ten blocks.
Source: Full APA or other reference (like a teacher)

Base Ten Block

Counters

Unifix Cubes

Geoboard

Tangrams

Spinner