Math Activities for Manipulatives

A child learning to count with candy manipulatives.

Teachers often use manipulatives for teaching children how to count, add, multiply, and perform other functions of mathematics. The manipulatives themselves can be a variety of items, from teddy bears to dinosaurs, to sets of blocks. For younger children -- who are learning the basics of math -- animals, cars, and other small items are a great idea. For older children learning multiplication and fractions, choose block manipulatives that are proportional to each other.

Sorting and Counting

With manipulatives of different colors and sizes, children can learn to sort based on the size or color. This will reinforce their memory for counting and colors, which are basic functions of math. M&Ms are a great manipulative for young children as well when it comes to color, counting and sorting. They can sort by color, count how many of each color and then eat them for a snack. Knowing they can eat them later should keep their attention throughout the lesson.

Tens & Ones Places

An important part of learning math after the first ten is learning about tens and ones. With manipulatives you can help children learn this by showing a few of the tens blocks and then a number of ones. Using the proportional maniupulatives and paper and pencil they can learn about the zero place holders when counting up to 100. After 100 it is harder to use manipulatives but once they already know the zero place holder concepts, it is easier to teach it for larger quantities.

Fractions

Fractions are easier to teach when you have something physical to use in the lesson. With the proportional blocks you can show children exactly what one-half is. From here you can build upon the fractions to show smaller amounts. As you work with your set of manipulatives they can use their own sets to mimic what you are showing them. This will then lead to measuring, in which case the manipulatives can again illustrate how to measure in a cup with markings on the side and perhaps to follow a mathematical recipe.

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division

Once they learn counting, the next step is addition and light subtraction. Any of the manipulatives discussed will teach adding and subtracting well, though the blocks have the advantage because they are proportional to the number they reflect. Multiplication and division, counting by twos, fives, and tens, are great ways to use the manipulatives to learn as well. Only don't bother going over one hundred because there usually aren't enough manipulatives for this and they usually learn the concept before this point.

Weighing

Children love learning how to weigh things because they get to use a scale. If you have a scale with two sides it is even more fun as they have to learn to balance the scale with the manipulatives. Have them experiment with different colors, sizes of blocks and combinations of other items as they learn.

References

• Preschool Rock: Kindergarten Math Concepts