DIY Math Manipulatives
Here are some fun, easy do it yourself math manipulatives you can create at home!
Here are some fun, easy do it yourself math manipulatives you can create at home!
Place Value Cups
This simple craft will help students with place value and can also be used to practice saying numbers correctly.
This simple craft will help students with place value and can also be used to practice saying numbers correctly.
Abacus
This ancient tool can be used to help your child add or subtract. By placing 10 beads in each row this allows the student to see what actually occurs when something is carried over to the next place value.
This is a great, simple way to create one using: Pony Beads, string/straws/pipe cleaners, cardboard
-I have created some already so if you would like either an example or for me to make one for your child I would be more than happy to, just send me an email.
This ancient tool can be used to help your child add or subtract. By placing 10 beads in each row this allows the student to see what actually occurs when something is carried over to the next place value.
This is a great, simple way to create one using: Pony Beads, string/straws/pipe cleaners, cardboard
-I have created some already so if you would like either an example or for me to make one for your child I would be more than happy to, just send me an email.
Math Ball Toss
Add, subtract, multiply, divide, create equations....the possibilities are endless with this one!
Take a beach ball (or any ball for that matter) and write numbers with a sharpie, allow enough room between numbers for your hand to be touching no more than one number each. Tossing the ball back and forth you can have a specific target number to try to reach (selecting the appropriate operations) or when the ball is caught, create an equation with the numbers your hands are touching.
Example: Target Number is 12. When I catch the ball, my left hand lands on 4 and my right hand lands on 3. The equation I create is 4x3=12
Add, subtract, multiply, divide, create equations....the possibilities are endless with this one!
Take a beach ball (or any ball for that matter) and write numbers with a sharpie, allow enough room between numbers for your hand to be touching no more than one number each. Tossing the ball back and forth you can have a specific target number to try to reach (selecting the appropriate operations) or when the ball is caught, create an equation with the numbers your hands are touching.
Example: Target Number is 12. When I catch the ball, my left hand lands on 4 and my right hand lands on 3. The equation I create is 4x3=12
Balancing Scale
This allows students to see what balance actually is by altering the weight distribution until they can balance the weight of differing objects.
This allows students to see what balance actually is by altering the weight distribution until they can balance the weight of differing objects.
Target Practice
Setting this up allows students to try to add up to a target number or to reach 0 first by subtracting the number landed on from 100. This allows students to work on motor skills while also perfecting addition and subtraction skills. Possibilities are unlimited with this one too!
Setting this up allows students to try to add up to a target number or to reach 0 first by subtracting the number landed on from 100. This allows students to work on motor skills while also perfecting addition and subtraction skills. Possibilities are unlimited with this one too!
What Time Did I Roll?
Using a clock at home (with hour hand and minute hand), use old small boxes covered with paper or duct tape as dice with digits 1-12 (6 digits on the 6 faces) on one and :minutes (any you choose; ie. 15 minute increments, 5 minutes, random, etc.) on the die. After you roll the two to create a time, allow the student to take time to show this time on the clock by moving the hour hand and the minute hand.
Using a clock at home (with hour hand and minute hand), use old small boxes covered with paper or duct tape as dice with digits 1-12 (6 digits on the 6 faces) on one and :minutes (any you choose; ie. 15 minute increments, 5 minutes, random, etc.) on the die. After you roll the two to create a time, allow the student to take time to show this time on the clock by moving the hour hand and the minute hand.
Greater/Less Than Legos
Using legos allows students to see how numbers actually compare when shown with a value (in this case, height). By providing numbers and <, =, > symbols, students are able to create number stories to show the relationship between the two stacks of legos.
Using legos allows students to see how numbers actually compare when shown with a value (in this case, height). By providing numbers and <, =, > symbols, students are able to create number stories to show the relationship between the two stacks of legos.
Addition/Subtraction Hopscotch
The picture is pretty self explanatory but you can use this to either add to a certain target number or reach 0 from a starting number such as 25. Fun for all ages! As the age increases the difficulty of the operation can increase (multiplication & division for older grades).
The picture is pretty self explanatory but you can use this to either add to a certain target number or reach 0 from a starting number such as 25. Fun for all ages! As the age increases the difficulty of the operation can increase (multiplication & division for older grades).
Playing Cards Fraction Comparison
This can be used as a War type card game. Each player will flip two cards and whoever can make the greatest fraction wins all the cards in that round. (There are many other math card games, try to google some)
This can be used as a War type card game. Each player will flip two cards and whoever can make the greatest fraction wins all the cards in that round. (There are many other math card games, try to google some)