Manipulatives

Numerous definitions of manipulatives are cited in the professional literature but in essence a manipulative are “objects that appeal to several senses and that can be touched, moved about, rearranged, and otherwise handled by children” (Kennedy, 1986, p. 6). Using familiar objects when learning new symbolic concepts encourages active learners in the learning process. And hence helps assimilate knowledge by giving opportunities to explore, investigate, question, record, share, and talk about their discoveries. The motive behind the use of manipulatives is that pupils learn in different ways, when manipulatives are used, the senses are brought into learning and they also act as visual representation of the mathematical concept.