Hands on Heads on :The effective use of mathematics manipulative materials



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What is mathematics manipulative?
A manipulative material is an object(s) that can be handled by an individual in a sensory manner during which process, conscious and unconscious thinking will be fostered. 

 Consequently, a mathematics manipulative object(s) would lead to an awareness and development of concepts and ideas linked with mathematics and they would most likely be purpose designed.
The members of the research team sought an all-embracing definition, but such a definition eluded the.With careful consideration, it was decided that there are tools (such as a calculator), teaching tools (demonstration models) and teaching aids (fraction charts); generally these were not considered as mathematics manipulative materials. Within the general definition, structured and unstructured mathematics manipulative materials were recognised. Needless to say, throughout the education literature many definitions of mathematics manipulative materials have been offered.

Abacus
Why abacus
 Abacus as a tool for development of Child's Brain.!!
It is difficult to imagine counting without numbers, but there was a time when written numbers did not exist. The earliest counting device was the human hand and its fingers. Then, as larger quantities (larger than ten human-fingers could represent) were counted, various natural items like pebbles and twigs were used to help count. Merchants in those days not only needed a way to count goods they bought and sold, but also to calculate its costs. Until numbers were invented, counting devices were used to make everyday calculations. The abacus is one of many counting devices invented to help count large numbers. 

 http://www.abacusmaster.com/Mypage.aspx?p=why-abacus.htm
Mathematics Materials

NB:
The  Ministry of Education Science and Technology-Kenya (CEMASTEA & KICD),should make this powerful tool available to schools to aid in numeracy levels in the country..

Abacus
• looped (2, 3, 6 loops)
• three-prong (different styles but
same principle)

Attribute Blocks
and support materials

Beads & Threading Laces
Bead Frame (Counting frame)

Centicube
and support materials such as
baseboards

Clocks - variety; both digital and
Analogue

Coloured rods (Cuisenaire)

Construction Materials
(ensure comprehensive collections
of a few varieties; eg. Knex, Mobilo,
Interstar, etc)

Counting materials
Cotton reels, cubes (variety),
popsticks, counting sticks

Cubes - 1 cm, 2 cm Wood or
plastic (See Unifix, Multilink
(Gain), Centicube, etc)

Dominoes - a variety of types

Fractions - a wide variety; eg.
fraction games & fraction cakes.

Fraction Kits - eg. Wainwright
Fraction Kits

Geoboard- 5 x 5, 10 x 10 pins

Geometric models
(solid) and hollow, such as, Power
Solids

Johnstone Number Line
MAB (Multibase Arithmetic
Blocks) or Base 10 blocks and a
variety of support material

Matrix Games ‘What’s in the
Square?’, ‘What Else is in the
Square?’ and similar products

Measurement Materials
Mira (Geoflector, Geo mirror)

Mirrors
Number Board (1-100) – variety

Pattern Blocks

Peg board and pegs
(variety)

Puzzles: geometric, pentomino,
soma cube, tangram etc

Scales
• Kitchen scales, bathroom scales
• Balance Scales
• Pan Balance Spring
• Scales/Balance
Tangrams
Tessellation Pack
The Brick

Sorting Materials - farm animals,
dinosaurs, frogs, teddies etc.

Unifix cubes - (Constructo
cubes, Simfit, Stack cubes)

Unit Blocks (Project Blocks)
Welford Blocks

2D to 3D Shapes
Interlocking shapes create a net
which form a solid.
There is a large number of materials in this genre.
Here are some examples:
Polydron, Lokko, Klikko, Clixi,
GeoFit,

Geo Shapes and Mini
Geofix( a smaller version)

A Range of Games
Many schools have a wide variety of games available, stored in both classrooms and storerooms. It is recommended that students benefit from learning the skills of a few good games rather than being introduced to a wide range.th

A Mathematics Manipulative Continuum

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