Manipulatives

Manipulative Toolkits

Organizing the Toolkit

It’s helpful to use a storage bag that is large enough to hold paper and still seal. Large bags can be an expense and difficult to find, so be on the lookout. Look for dimensions that are at least 10’’ by 12’’. For example Hefty makes bags that are “jumbo 2-gallon” slider storage bags with dimensions 14 ⅜’’ by 16’’ that cost $20.69 for 36 bags. It could be an investment that the school or parent organization could help support.

What to Include

You can include a mix of tools, supplies, and games!

Helpful paper tools include:

  • Number line (numbered and open)
  • Hundreds chart
  • Ten frame
  • Grid paper
  • Dot cards
  • Place value mat
  • Number bonds or Part-Part-Whole
  • Geoboard dot paper

Manipulatives include:

Games include:

  • How close to 100?
  • Guess my number
  • Find a place

Supplies include:

  • Dry erase marker
  • Sock to erase
  • 2 Dice
  • Cards
  • Spinner
  • Small counters (~30 per kit)

Helpful Hints

For tools that children will move around so that the edges are touching, it’s better to use foam sheets rather than paper. It can be hard to get the edges of the paper pieces aligned, but with shapes made from foam sheets, the slight width of the shape makes it easier to align the edges.

You can include a felt sheet in the kit to roll the dice on. That way it won’t be so loud if everyone is rolling dice on their desks and dice-rolling won’t get too out of control!

If you repurpose clear, colored binder dividers, you can cut them into squares to make see-through counters that you can use with the hundreds chart. Then the numbers still show through the counters.

Look for regular household items that you can repurpose. Ask families to collect these too (and donate clean objects)! For example:

  • Milk lids
  • Squeeze-applesauce caps
  • Marker tops
  • Straws
  • Baggies

Look for the following things when they go on sale at craft stores, or use discount coupons at stores like Joann Fabrics and Michael’s:

  • Card stock
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Beads (only need two different colors for rekenreks)
  • Popsicle sticks and Pom-poms
  • Sheets of craft foam

Look for the following at office supply stores. The first two items are the most expensive items, so look for sales and coupons, especially during the Back-to-School season.

  • Sheet protectors (to use with dry erase markers). Avoid easy load, get top load instead
  • Dry erase markers, don’t use red because they don’t erase well
  • Notecards, post-it notes