Click here to go back to our main math page.

Manipulatives can be used to elaborate lessons or they can be played with during "free time". They help make the abstract more concrete and tangible. You'd be surprised at how much kids will pick up "on their own" when you give them free reign to play with math manipulatives. Somehow, when you "play" with math stuff, it isn't so scary anymore.

The following list is just a suggestion. Most of them are things we have "played" with at one time or another. I have linked to online and printable versions of the materials whenever possible for those of you on a budget or who want to give things a "test run". I have also linked to Connecting Waters vendors that sell the items for our local charter school students.

Coming soon - more information on what you can do with all of these goodies!

Click on any picture to see it larger.

Early Grades - Elementary Math:

Base 10 blocks OR Math-U-See Blocks

Click here for interactive base 10 blocks.
Dividing with interactive base ten blocks.

You can purchase Math-U-See blocks here and base 10 blocks here.

Clock with moveable hands (a Judy clock is nice)
You can purchase one here.

Click here for an interactive online teaching clock.
Click here for a printable clock page.

A good compass, protractor, etc.
Rainbow Resource has a very cheap kit with these items.

Connecting cubes or Unifix cubes (if you don't have Math-U-See blocks or Cuisenaire rods)
You can purchase some here.

Click here for interactive connecting cubes.

Counting bears or other counters
Click here for our printable "milk chocolate" and "candy" bear counters.
Click here for interactive counters. You can choose from different "cute" animals or colored "chips".
You can order some from Rainbow Resource. Do a search for "counters".

 

Cuisenaire rods
You can purchase some here.

Click here for online interactive Cuisenaire rods.
Click here for a different version of Cuisenaire rods.

 

Deck of playing cards (for math card games)
You can purchase some here.
Click here for some printable, oversized playing cards.

 

Dominoes
You can order some from Rainbow Resource.

Click here for printable dominoes.

Geoboard and rubber bands
You can order one here.

Click here for an interactive geoboard

 

Elementary math scale or a small kitchen scale
You can order one from here or here.

 

 

Factor blocks
Foam blocks to use when learning about volume, greatest common factor and least common multiple. You can purchase some here.

 

 

Flashcards or Fact Family Cards
You can order some from Rainbow Resource.
Click here for interactive multiplication flashcards.
Click here for a variety of interactive flashcards.
Click here for printable fact family cards.

 

FlashMaster
A handheld math drill game for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. You can purchase one here.

Fraction bars, tiles, circles OR a Math-U-See fraction set
Rainbow Resource sells several fraction sets.

Click here for interactive fraction tiles.
Click here for interactive fraction bars.
We also have a printable page of fraction strips / bars. Please check our math printables page.
Click here for interactive fraction circles.

 

 

Hundred number chart plus colored tiles
You can order a chart here and tiles here.

Click here for an interactive hundreds number chart.
Click here for a printable hundreds number chart.

 

M&M's, other candies or beans
Math games *We will be adding specific titles
Measuring tools (kitchen measuring cups, measuring spoons, empty milk carton, smaller whipping cream carton, etc.)
Number line
You can purchase a dry erase number line here.

Click here for an interactive number line.

Number stamps (if you have a young child whose math skills are more advanced than handwriting skills)
You can order some here.

Pattern blocks
Rainbow Resource has a variety of pattern blocks.

Click here for interactive pattern blocks.
Here is another site with interactive pattern blocks.
Click here for printable pattern blocks.

Play cash register
You can purchase one here.

 

 

Play checks
You can order some inexpensive play checks from Rainbow Resource.

Click here for printable "play" checks.

Pretend money (both coins and bills) - or real money!
You can order some play money here.

Click here for interactive play money.
Click here for printable "pretend" dollar bills.

 

Ruler
You can order many different kinds here.

Click here for some printable rulers.

Spinner
You can purchase one here.

Tangrams
Rainbow Resource has lots of different Tangrams to choose from.

Click here for interactive Tangrams.
Click here for printable Tangrams.

 

Zome system - www.zometool.com
You can order some here.

Later Grades - More Advanced Math:

Advanced calculator
ETA has several scientific calculators available for purchase.

Algeblocks
You can purchase some here.

Algebra tiles
You can purchase some here.

Click here for interactive Algebra tiles (coefficients positive).
Click here for more interactive Algebra tiles (coefficients positive and negative).
Here's a different version of Algebra tiles.

A good compass, protractor, etc.
Rainbow Resource has a very cheap kit with these items.

Math games