Toys
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Puzzles, Manipulatives, and More
Toys like pattern blocks, geometric solids, or tangrams (anything concrete that can be viewed and handled by kids) allow students to construct their own understanding of mathematics. They help engage students, increasing their interest as they go. Playing with math toys involves exploration, discovery, and experimentation while encouraging discussion and communication skills. It also activates the senses— kids use sight and touch to break down concepts and make their way through problems.
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Search a list of recommended toys. I have purposely selected ones I feel are especially effective for teaching math concepts and sparking kids’ interest. And, I am continually seeking out newly released products that make math fun.
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Another great product from MindWare, this logic and strategy toy includes 50 challenges, increasing in difficulty. Choose a puzzle card and place the tiles on the board so that the marbles land at the correct targets at the bottom. As the puzzles become more difficult, the cards include fewer tiles to get you started…
Another great product from MindWare, this logic and strategy toy includes 50 challenges, increasing in difficulty. Choose a puzzle card and place the tiles on the board so that the marbles land at the correct targets at the bottom. As the puzzles become more difficult, the cards include fewer tiles to get you started. Players use their problem solving and spatial reasoning skills to take on each challenge. The game pieces are of great quality, so this game will stand up over time as your child moves through the puzzles.
This puzzle, which includes ten tiles, challenges you to connect the tiles in order to build loops of different shapes and colors. With many different solutions, Tantrix can provide hours of experimentation and creativity…
This puzzle, which includes ten tiles, challenges you to connect the tiles in order to build loops of different shapes and colors. With many different solutions, Tantrix can provide hours of experimentation and creativity. The tiles are light in weight, but of high quality, so they are quite durable and will hold up very well through puzzle after puzzle. And since they are small in size, they can travel with ease. Tantrix is a great go-to for a rainy afternoon at home, or for early finishers in a classroom.
With this cookie jar filled with cookies, children can develop their counting, subitizing (seeing how many are there without counting), and number recognition skills. Each cookie has raised chocolate chips so children can easily count the number of chocolate chips on the cookie. On the bottom side of each cookie is the matching numeral…
With this cookie jar filled with cookies, children can develop their counting, subitizing (seeing how many are there without counting), and number recognition skills. Each cookie has raised chocolate chips so children can easily count the number of chocolate chips on the cookie. On the bottom side of each cookie is the matching number, so children can also practice recognizing the numbers and building their understanding that this number tells how many chocolate chips are in that group on that cookie. The jar includes 11 cookies with 0-10 chocolate chips on each cookie; including zero is important so that young children can get experience with it and understand it in context, in this case zero chocolate chips on the cookie.
In this logic and spatial reasoning game, you must tackle the challenge cards to get the marble through the maze. There are 60 challenges in total, ranging from beginner level to expert; also included are a game grid, nine towers, one target piece, and three marbles. The toy not only builds logic and reasoning skills, but also planning skills as children take on each challenge…
In this logic and spatial reasoning game, you must tackle the challenge cards to get the marble through the maze. There are 60 challenges in total, ranging from beginner level to expert; also included are a game grid, nine towers, one target piece, and three marbles. The toy not only builds logic and reasoning skills, but also planning skills as children take on each challenge. And with a range of puzzles to try, it covers a large age range.
Featured Articles
Why Do Teachers Use Manipulatives To Teach Math?
As parents, you may have noticed less emphasis on algorithms and memorization in mathematics and more emphasis on "sense-making" since the time when we were kids in elementary school. A big piece of this process is using manipulatives-- toys that are used as teaching...
Why Use Children’s Literature to Teach Mathematics?
Children love stories. Parents and teachers can take advantage of this by using literature as a vehicle for teaching math and consolidating understanding. Children's literature can highlight concepts, act as a springboard to new math learning, stimulate discussion, or...
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