Essential Math Manipulatives for Your Elementary Classroom

1. Base-Ten Blocks with Place Value Chart

I use my base-ten blocks more than any other math manipulative in my classroom. Students are able to use them to show an understanding of place value and also to help solve addition and subtraction problems.

Although most students will move forward to just drawing the blocks or using the standard algorithm, they are always kept readily available for any student who may need the tactile experience.

2. Wooden Ten-Frame

If you teach kindergarten, first, or second graders, a hands-on ten-frame is a must.

This one includes 6 wooden boards, white boards, and double-sided tokens, making it perfect for small-group instruction. There are even game boards and dice included to gamify your instruction!

3. Plastic Pattern Blocks

Pattern blocks are such a versatile math manipulative.

Not only are they great for teaching about different shape attributes, but they are also wonderful to help students with problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and fine motor skills.

I use them a lot as an independent center with printed pattern block templates!

4. Math Cubes

Math cubes are another super helpful math manipulative that can sometimes get overlooked. With younger kiddos, these math cubes are great to introduce counting, sorting, and number sense.

With older students, you can use them to show part-part-whole equations or even to solve for area and perimeter problems.

5. Pretend Play Money

This one needs little explanation, however, it’s so important to have pretend play money in your classroom.

I not only use it in direct instruction, but I also have it available during free play/brain break/indoor recess time so students can become familiar with it! It’s always their favorite to use!

6. Baby Bear Counters

In my classroom, I like to keep a variety of counters on hand. They are all used the same, but by simply switching the shape/color/animal/etc, it can skyrocket your engagement.

Counters can be used for number sense, addition, subtraction, patterns, and even when you are first introducing multiplication and division.

7. Number Counting Blocks

I always tell my students that it’s a-okay to use their fingers as it’s a tool that they will always have with them. This fun math manipulative is great to help them visualize that statement.

I always use it as an intervention tool during small group time!

8. 50 Pieces Colored Dice

Although dice may not appear to be a math manipulative, I use them for SO MANY things during my math block.

There are hundreds of different math games to play, and they are great to keep engagement high and help with the automaticity of math facts.

9. Geometric Solids

There are many types of geometric solids available, but I’ve found these View-Thru shapes to be the most versatile.

They’re great for helping students explore the properties of 3D shapes, and the removable bottoms make it easy to connect each solid to its corresponding 2D face.

Plus, they can be filled with water, making them perfect for hands-on volume experiments!

10. Classroom Clock Kit

Practice clocks are math manipulatives that need no introduction. These miniature clocks are my favorite to use when teaching students how to tell time.

The hour and minute hands are easily identified, the small numbers help students count the minutes, and the hour hand moves with the minute hand!

Find helpful strategies for teaching time past the hour and free games to try the strategies with your students in this post.

11. Magnetic Ten Frame

In addition to a student set of ten frames, this magnetic ten-frame is perfect for whole-group instruction.

It comes with 2 frames and 20 double-sided magnetic counters. I like to use it for our daily number talks!

12. Place Value Discs

These place value discs are a must in every 2nd or 3rd-grade class. They are great to help students visualize place value.

You can use them first to represent whole numbers and then move into representing decimals. They really come in handy when we start adding, subtracting, and multiplying numbers with decimals.

13. Fraction Tiles

Magnetic fraction tiles are SO helpful when we get to our fraction unit. There are 156 total pieces, and each color represents a different fraction for easy identification.

I especially like that there are circles and fraction lines so students can see both types. I use them for whole-group instruction and small groups, but my students also have access to the magnets during independent work.

14. Foam Counters

These double-sided foam counters help students with number sense. They are great for beginners when learning to add, subtract, or sort.

I especially like these counters because they are quiet (yay for fewer distractions) and they match my whole group magnetic set (above).