Manipulatives are a key resource for classroom teachers to use when introducing or practicing math concepts. Physical objects engage learners and are helpful to bring concepts to life. Digital manipulatives can be used to support the instruction of a range of elementary math topics. The following sites are free and supported on a range of platforms. These sites can be used to teach mathematical concepts including:
- Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Write and understand numerical expressions, analyze patterns and relationships
- Numbers and Operations in Base Ten and Fractions: Understanding place value,
- Measurement and Data: Measure lengths, work with time and money, represent data
- Geometry: Understanding shapes and their attributes
Toy Theater – Virtual Manipulatives
Toy Theater offers a range of digital math manipulatives for elementary students in Kindergarten to grade 3. This free, web-based resource that allow teachers or students to practice with the benefit of interactive visuals. Sample links to Toy Theater manipulatives:
- Fraction Manipulatives: Help kids make sense of fractions, percentages and decimals with Toy Theater’s fraction strips.
- Time Manipulatives: Practice setting time on an interactive analog clock which allows teachers to toggle the digital time on or off. Show or hide hour or minute hands.
- Number Chart Manipulatives: From number lines to multiplication charts, you’ll find what you are looking for in this collection of number charts.
- Geometry Manipulatives: Create using geoboard, pattern blocks, tangrams and more.
- Counters: Bear counters, abacus, ten frames, Rekenreks and more can be found in Toy Theater’s collection of counters.
- Graph Manipulatives: Create and manipulate colored bar or square graphs.
- Money Manipulatives: Play with US coins and bills or explore other currencies.
The Math Learning Center – Sharable Manipulatives
Apps from the Math Learning Center are available in a range of platforms including Web Apps, iPad Apps and Chrome Webstore. One of the unique features of these virtual math manipulatives is the ability to share via a unique link. The sharing feature works well via Google Classroom or even shared live via display of the unique code to the class.
- Number Line: Visualize number sequences, counting and basic functions
- Geoboard: Create line segments and polygons to support exploration of area, perimeter, angles, fractions and more.
- Number Frames: Represent and compare numbers for counting
- Pattern Shapes: Virtual pattern blocks allow measurement of angles, composition and decomposition of complex shapes
- Number Pieces: Practice place value of multi-digit numbers
Mathigon – Polypad Manipulatives
Elementary and secondary teachers will love Mathigon’s Polypad, a highly interactive digital canvas with a growing collection of math manipulatives and backgrounds. Use the Question builder to overlay questions and answer checks on the canvas. Teacher-created Polypads can be shared to Google Classroom as assignments. But that’s not all! Mathigon is an incredible, award-winning resource for teachers looking for an alternative to traditional math textbooks. The site offers a wide range of free content to provide students with meaningful math experiences to develop mathematical thinking skills. The site is continually adding new content and provides a collection of tutorial webinars.
Didax Math Manipulatives
Didax, the maker of student manipulatives in use in classrooms the world over, offers some digital apps for teacher and student use.
- Pattern Blocks: Click and drag shapes to create images. Each polygon can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise by hovering over clicking the rotation icon.
- Ten Frame: View frames vertically or horizontally. Add desired number of frames using “+” tool on right sidebar.
- Dice: Drag: the number of dice you want to use onto the workspace. Use paint bucket to color dice cubes as needed. Click the “roll” icon to roll your dice.
- Unifix Cubes: Click and drag cubes which adjust spacing to stack properly. Ten colors available.
- Color Tiles: Click and drag four colored squares. Pen tool available.
Mathsbot Manipulatives
Mathsbot offers a wide range of Math tools for teachers, including math printables and starters. The also have an extensive collection of manipulatives such as:
- Rekenreks where users can click and drag beads into horizontal and vertical groups varying in size from 1 to 10
- Place Value Cards which can be customized and arranged in stacks to visualize place value
- Prime Factor Tiles to help students visualize addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions
- Pentominoes are shapes made of 5 connected squares. This manipulative allows kids to create different geometric shapes by rearranging the pentominoes.
