The Academic Library here in Yuma has a wide variety of manipulatives available for use and for checkout including 3D Legos, puzzles, math manipulatives for most grade levels, chemistry atlas kits, a variety of different science kits, models including 3D models, charts, educational technologies, and so much more.
What is the purpose of having college students use manipulatives? Manipulative help students learn by allowing them to move from concrete experience to abstract reasoning. (Heddens, 1986).
Manipulatives are any objects or materials that any student can touch and move around in order to learn a mathematical or other concepts.” (Peggy Nuhn, UCF Librarian, 2024).
Consider:
1. Manipulatives have been chosen to support the lesson's objective.
2. Significant plans have been made to orient students to the manipulatives and corresponding classroom procedures.
3. The lesson involves active participation of each student.
4. The lesson plan includes procedures for evaluation that reflect an emphasis on the development of reasoning skills.
Here at the Academic Library, manipulatives may be borrowed just like a book and used in your classroom even by student-teachers. Contact your librarian for more information.