Math Made Fun: Unlocking Learning with Hands-On Tools
By Shannon at the Southern Schoolhouse
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Over the past 5 years, I have obtained different hands-on math items that have supported the learning goals of the individual students that I serve (specific to the primary grades, some upper). I wanted to share these with my homeschool families and provide a description for each. Some materials can teach multiple concepts and this saves time and money. When you can teach a concept through hands-on materials, it helps to keep the child engaged, makes learning fun and supports learning styles.
I use ten frames often because they can be used for multiple concepts. They are a good representation on numbers to 10 and for adding and subtraction.
This penguin balance scale is a fun way to learning the numbers 1-10, count 1:1 and demonstrate simple addition facts. There is also a scale with monkeys.
This Math Monster scale includes 9 larger monster weights and 11 smaller, soft monster weights. Place any large weight on one arm and see if your student can guess how many smaller ones are needed to balance out the scale!
The number blocks helps build an understanding that each object and number represents one unit. This also provides a visual way to understand addition and subtraction.
This wooden letter and number puzzle is a good independent activity to practice not only counting quantities and matching with the correct number but letter recognition, too.
Food sorters tubs is matching a number to correct amount of fruit or vegetables. It is also good for sorting and identifying colors.
Wooden Ladybug Toy Children love to play this matching game, which exercises hand-eye coordination and cultivates patience and concentration.
Link the corresponding number of clips to the 20 numbered ice cream cones. Count colors, create patterns, visualize amounts, and learn through hands-on play
Who doesn’t love a pop it? I use this with my students who are identifying numbers 1-100. You can use for counting and basic addition and subtraction.
For this 100s board, the tile can be removed and students can show correct order of the numbers to 100. They can compare numbers and there are also pieces for more complex problems.
This number line goes to 100 but can be broken down to fit the need of the student. Good for playing, ” I am thinking of a number between 5 and 10 using the magnets. Also, counting by 5s and 10s.
Number blocks and sticks can be used for basic numbers 0-9 and using the sticks to represent quantities. It can also be used for more complex operations as they grow in their learning.
I have a student who has difficulty counting up using their own fingers and this model helps them to demonstrate their understanding of addition and subtraction.
Addition Dominoes Children will love the feel of learning with a real domino. My kids love the math and reading ones.
This base ten set can be used to build numbers to 1000 as well as adding up to three digit numbers. A good tool to use as well as they grow in their learning.
These counters (visual manipulative tool) are used in early math education to teach fundamental concepts like counting, addition, subtraction and patterns
Pattern blocks are a hands-on way for students to explore and learn about shapes, spatial relationships, and concepts with symmetry.
Additional base ten blocks are helpful to have when representing bigger numbers and learning about regrouping with addition.
These linking cubes provide another visual representation of counting, patterns, addition, subtraction, place value, and fractions.
Color tiles are visual tools to help concretely understand concepts like sorting, area, perimeter, patterns, symmetry, and number relationships.
Hands on way for students to understand fractions such as like comparing sizes, finding equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and visualizing the relationship between parts and a whole.
