MANIPULATIVE GAMES: AS A TOOL TO ENHANCE THE BASIC SKILLS

OF GRADE 3 PUPILS IN MULTIPLYING 2 DIGITS NUMBERS BY 1 DIGIT

EDONAH C. GABRILLO

ARMIDA V. GAVELANO

RONABEL L. ONDAC

LITA P. OSHITA

BACHELOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

I. CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

Multiplying 2 digit numbers by 1 digit is quite challenging to the pupils

especially, to the lower grade level. Even it is the basic skills in multiplying

numbers by 1 digit but it’s hard to them to understand and to solve the

problem. Exploring strategy is one of the teacher ways to capture the

attention, focus and interest of the pupils on learning mathematics.

Now a days math is still continues a challenging and difficult subject to

the learners for it is about solving problems. It was observed in grade 3

pupils of Quezon Central Elementary School that the basic skills in

multiplying 2 numbers by 1 digit is one of the struggles faced of the pupils

and there are only few learners reached the mastery level as observed in

daily formative and weekly assessment.

There are different factors that affect academic performance of the

learners in mathematics subject. Students are bored and lose interest in

math because they find it difficult to understand the concept especially in

the part of the complex components of the mathematics subject. According

to Medrano (2020), students’ behavior and emotions can have a big

influence on how they learn. While some students may feel unfairly treated

and have a general fear of numbers, others may actively participate in class

because enjoy and find studying exciting.

Another reason, when it comes to performance, some learners notice

that he is frequently passive and appears disinterested; he has in poor

multiplying 2 digit numbers by 1 digit, he gets bored easily and gives up

more quickly than the typical students.

According to Khatoon and Mahmoud (2010) indicated that learners’

inferior performance in mathematics is influenced by their negative

attitudes towards the subject that emanate from societal views that it is

difficult subject. International studies by Asikhia (2010) found that, in

Britain, the reasons for poor performance in Mathematics are lack of

learning support; principal teachers dissatisfaction with the in- career

training of teachers in Mathematics; and the learners taught by the

teachers who have not participated in career professional development.

Frequently, this is brought on by pupils’ inattention to the material,

general lack of self-confidence, and trouble understanding the concepts of

multiplication. Furthermore, some kids could also find math challenging

because they perceive it to be a challenging and uninteresting subject. This

is troublesome since it could lead to more pupils struggling if they have a

poor overall viewpoint or approach to the job. Because of this, it’s essential

to approach teaching and learning math in a way that is not just productive

and educational but also fun and interesting. This is what the grade 3

teachers at Central Elementary School said when asked to watch while

researchers are in the field.

In mathematics education today, the emphasis is on developing

children’s understanding through exploration and discovery (Elkins; van

Kraayenoord & Elkins, 2004; Westwood, 2003; Wu, 1999). Whilst some

children do reach a level of mastery in basic skills through exploration and

discovery, there are others who require classroom program and

adjustments to achieve similar levels of mastery (Elkins 2002; Westwood,

2003). Many students invent their own calculation strategies and continue

to use inefficient strategies when more efficient ones are available (Fuson,

2003;) Kilpatrick et al., 2001).

 Multiplying numbers is one of the crucial skills that must learn and

master of the pupils for it is applied in daily living and the foundation of

further knowledge that taught in every stages of the learning process in

mathematics subject.

Based on research from several countries, manipulative materials in

teaching mathematics to students hold the promise that manipulative will

help students understand the material being taught (Heddens, 2007).

(Heddens, 2007) states that manipulative materials are concrete

models that involve mathematical concepts, appealing to several senses

that can be touched and moved around by the student. Using manipulative

materials in teaching can help students how to relate real world situations

to mathematics symbolism and work together cooperatively in solving

problems.

The participant’s pre-test and summative assessment will act as a guide

for gathering relevant information about the primary concern and

assessing the effectiveness of the suggestive strategy in enhancing the

students’ numerical multiplication skills. The following will be benefits of

this study; Participants, teachers, and the future researchers. This study

will include only the grade 3 pupils in the Central Elementary School.

This study entitled “Manipulative Games: As a tool to enhance the basic

skills of Grade 3 pupils in multiplying 2 digits numbers by 1 digit” that

aims to address the following;

To determine the proficiency level of the grade 3 pupils towards

multiplying two-digit numbers by one digit.

 To enhance the mastery in multiplying 2 digits number by 1 digit of

Grade 3 pupils using intervention of innovation.

To explore advantages of using manipulative games in enhancing

multiplying 2 digits number by 1 digit.

II. INNOVATION, INTERVENTION, AND STRATEGY

Using manipulative materials the researcher came up to create

manipulative games that help to enhance in multiplying 2 digits number

by 1 digit. The following suggestive innovation of the researchers are;

Multiplication checkers, Ace Math, RoboMath and Array Explorer.

As the researcher was utilizing the DIY multiplication checkers board,

she came up with the egg tray idea as alternate materials for innovation

that would fit to enhance skills in multiplying two-digit numbers by one

digit. In order to create a game board with eight rows she gathered egg

trays and adhere them together. In addition, 24 egg shells are also

gathered to serve as a checker chip and these are designed with different

colors of paint and crepe paper.

Multiplication checkers is the resemblance of damath. Damath, is a

two-player educational board game combining the board game “dama”

(Filipino checkers) and math. Every piece has corresponding number and

each even (white) square on board has mathematical symbol. The goal of

playing damath is to score more points than the opponent. But

multiplication checkers is more engaging and fun because it is able to play

by 2 to 10 players that will be divided into two group. The goal of the game

is to score more points than the opponent’s group by capturing their egg

shell. The idea behind capturing the opponent’s egg shell is to deliberately
 go for a multiplication equation that placed in the diagonal pattern of egg

tray or the game board and it is intended to solve by the player who make a

move, and the solution they come up with will earn them points that they

will write in their white board using the marker. The white board of the

game is designed with 1-10 multiplication table that will help players to

solve the multiplication equation.

To play this game the following are the steps:

Step 1: toss the coin to determine which group will have the first move.

Take note that every member of the group has a three chance to move the

egg shell and wait their turns after the rotation to move again.

Step 2: move an eggshell, sliding it diagonally in the forward direction

only except when taking an opponent’s egg shell or if an egg shell takes by

an opponent’s egg shell.

Step 3: solve the equation where your egg shell landed after taking

opponents egg shell, the answer will be the point and when you landed to

zero there is no points. The players will show their solving in the white

board of each group.

Step 4: The two group that players will alternately take turns in moving

an egg shell (pass is not allowed).

Playing multiplication checkers and solving its multiplication equation

can help enhance pupils’ mastering skills in multiplying two-digit numbers

by one digit. It is promoting the values of being gentle. Gentleness in

movement is required in this game to avoid cracking of egg shell which

result of losing points.

Materials being used:

1. Egg tray

2. Egg shell

3. Color paint

4. Paint brush

5. Crepe papers

6. Marker

7. Eraser

8. Candle

9. lighter

10. Bond paper as white board

 The Ace Math suggests using the card to improve the skills of grade 3

students multiplying 2 digits numbers. The goal of this study is to

determine the effectiveness of using card is helpful to enhance the skills of

the students in multiplying 2 digits numbers by 1 digit.

Materials used:

1. Folder

2. Colored paper

3. Marker

Array explorer makes learning multiplication through array blocking

enjoyable and allows students to actively engage with mathematical

concepts in a dynamic and collaborative way.

The pupils who struggled in multiplying 2 digits number by 1 digit had

an impact in their skills in solving, so the researcher come up to this

innovation and utilize as a solution. With the aid of this tool, pupils must

pay attention during the introduction to grasp the concept of arrays for

assigned multiplication, independently create arrays for assigned

multiplication problems, arranging objects to represent rows and columns.

 By employing the arrow explorer game in multiplying, the pupils will

enhance their skills in problem solving skills.

Arrays are helpful tools which enable many students to understand

multiplication. To build arrays, manipulative are arranged in rows and

columns to represent the multiplicands in the problem (Barmby et al.,

2009. Arrays shift student thinking from additive thinking (equal groups)

to multiplicative thinking (factors and products) (Day & Hurrel, 2015;

Jacob & Mulligan, 2014; Siemon et al., 2011). Through manipulation of

arrays, students are provided with a strong understanding of factors,

multiplies, and products (Charles& Ducket, 2008; Day & Hurrell; Jacob &

Mulligan).

III. ACTION RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of

manipulative games: As a tool to enhance the basic skills of Grade 3 pupils

in multiplying 2 digits number by 1 digit. Specifically, it seems to answer

the following:

1. What is the proficiency level of the pupil in terms of skills in

multiplying 2 digits number by 1 digit?

2. Does the intervention of the innovation is effective in developing their

skills in multiplying t digits number by 1 digit?

3. Do the students show improvement after the implementation of the

intervention of innovation in their skills in multiplying 2 digits number

by 1 digit?
IV. ACTION RESEARCH METHOD

A. Participants and other sources of data and information

This study will be conducted in Quezon Central Elementary School, located at

Alfonso XIII, Quezon, Palawan this February 2024. The study focused on one

out of seven section in Grade 3. The researcher chooses the grade 3 silver for

respondent with the total of 31 pupils at Quezon Central Elementary school for

the school year 2023-2024. These selected participants were chosen us to

basis of their quizzes and activity. The participant was selected using the

purposive sampling.

B. Data Gathering Method

Purposive sampling, a non-probability sample that is selected based on

characteristics of population and the objective of the study.

JERGEN JEL C. LABARIA, PhD.

WPU Quezon Campus Administrator