Manipulatives

Manipulatives: objects (as blocks) that a student is instructed to use in a way that teaches or reinforces a lesson

Examples:

• Students use color tiles (red, blue, yellow, and green tiles) to make patterns
• Students sort red, yellow, and blue bears into groups by color or size

Non-examples:

During center time, two students in another class decided to take 6 buckets of manupulatives and dump them into a pile onto their carpet because "we wanted to play with them all together". The teacher came and got me to see this and all I could do was laugh and get my camera. We got a huge garbage bag and put all the manipulatives in it. So for the next few days or weeks (however long it takes them), they will spend some time each day sorting out this mess. Gotta love natural consequences!

Oh kids :)