MATH MANIPULATIVES IN

ECE
PHYSICAL VIRTUAL

authentic interaction with

PICTORIAL Concrete
environment

BENEFITS
decision
making

informal play
Abstract
reapplication of Learning structured play
abstractions Cycle
Low
effectiveness for
understanding of
abstractions ECE

DISADVANTAGES
concentration patterns

perseverance
For higher understanding, Efficacy depends on
you need purpose conditions under which
manipulatives are used
Begin with highly
transparent, concrete representations

Use consistently over a long period

of time
TIPS FOR THE CLASSROOM
Avoid manipulatives with distracting, By Ashley Row
irrelevant features Cope, L. (2015). Math Manipulatives: Making the Abstract Tangible. 
Delta Journal of Education, 5(1), 10-15.

Make the relation between the Daoust, C., Jor’dan, J., Laski, E., & Murray, A. (2015). What Makes
Mathematics Manipulatives Effective? Lessons From Cognitive

manipulative and math concept explicit

Science and Montessori Education. SAGE Open, 5(),
1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015589588