Can you imagine trying to build a house and not having the right types of tools! Well, this same challenge is present when trying to help students develop their number sense. Good tools that can be used by young students when learning basic addition and subtraction skills go far beyond pencil and paper.
Manipulatives give children lots of opportunities to explore math. Imagine the number of activities using manipulatives in which children can spend time exploring and playing with numbers and quantities. These activities will help them to move from concrete thinking to abstract thought processes. Here are a few examples.
Two color and teddy bear counters help first grade students to count out a specific number given to them on a card. This helps them visualize the quantity not just the memorized number symbol.
When a child encounters an addition or subtraction problem, they can use base 10 blocks and rods to help them visualize and then solve the problem. They can assemble blocks and rods to match the problem and then break them apart and regroup them to form the answer. This helps them recognize the number relationships in the problem. Blocks and rods are especially helpful for students trying to solve double-digit equations by seeing the same relationships with numbers beyond ten.
Number tiles and number lines will help children understanding the relationships of numbers. When comparing two number tiles, the children can use the number line to help them see the greater than or less than relationship. Number lines can also be used by the students to help them count forward or back when adding or subtracting.
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Can you imagine trying to build a house and not having the right types of tools! Well, this same challenge is present when trying to help students develop their number sense. Good tools that can be used by young students when learning basic addition and subtraction skills go far beyond pencil and paper.
Manipulatives give children lots of opportunities to explore math. Imagine the number of activities using manipulatives in which children can spend time exploring and playing with numbers and quantities. These activities will help them to move from concrete thinking to abstract thought processes. Here are a few examples.
Two color and teddy bear counters help first grade students to count out a specific number given to them on a card. This helps them visualize the quantity not just the memorized number symbol.
When a child encounters an addition or subtraction problem, they can use base 10 blocks and rods to help them visualize and then solve the problem. They can assemble blocks and rods to match the problem and then break them apart and regroup them to form the answer. This helps them recognize the number relationships in the problem. Blocks and rods are especially helpful for students trying to solve double-digit equations by seeing the same relationships with numbers beyond ten.
Number tiles and number lines will help children understanding the relationships of numbers. When comparing two number tiles, the children can use the number line to help them see the greater than or less than relationship. Number lines can also be used by the students to help them count forward or back when adding or subtracting.