"Manipulatives or physical models are enormously popular as tools for teaching
mathematics. Manipulatives used to model mathematical concepts are important tools
for helping children learn mathematics. Physical models can run the gamut from common
objects such as lima beans to commercially produced materials such as plastic counters
and geometric shapes.” (Van de Walle, 2001) In this module we will explore just a few
of the many manipulatives available to students, as they develop their mathematics
knowledge.
Click on the play button to launch a separate webpage. The webpage contains
an interactive multimedia presentation with an overview of manipulatives. You
can select content from a table of contents, control the speed of the video, and
search using the scrolling script.