June 24th, 2021

K-6: manipulatives extend learning beyond content areas to vital lifelong skills

As students work diligently on their learning in content areas, they can work with manipulatives to learn vital skills in developing collaborative language, listening and learning from peers, and experimenting with concepts in tactile ways.
 
If students are given manipulatives to work with, they can enhance their learning and delve deeper into understanding key concepts as they concurrently develop vital life skills which will serve them well in middle school and beyond. Working with versatile products, students can learn the skills of creative problem solving in groups, create problems to share with peers (student becomes teacher), and develop multiple solutions to challenges.
 
intooba construction kits for math/engineering/STEAM facilitate hands-on collaborative work with manipulatives, and they:
 

• promote active listening,
• require accurate descriptions of thoughts and directions,
• encourage experimentation,
• enable the visualization of concepts, and
• foster creativity.