To ascertain if children's use of manipulatives and/or the teacher's presentation of the problem in parts (chunking) affect children's ability to model and/or solve addition and/or subtraction problems, 146 first-grade subjects were administered the Houston Addition and Subtraction Problem-Solving Test which provided accuracy and modeling scores…

This document contains 15 case studies developed by the group teachers during a teaching experiment. Background information on each second grader, behavior and achievement characteristics, and analyses of the evaluation interviews are presented. (MS)

This resource review provides information on a wide range of mathematical aids currently available to teachers in Queensland (Australia) primary schools, and is arranged in the form of a report about each aid. The aids are classified as general aids, specific aids, or games. Each report contains details regarding suppliers and costs, a photograph…

The purpose of this study was to compare instruction in multiplication and division by means of manipulative materials and pupil discovery to instruction using abstract and semi-concrete materials combined with teacher explanation and exposition. The effect of the two methods on pupils' attitude and achievement also was compared. Ten classrooms…

The results of a study of student attitudes toward mathematics before and after studying a "Mathematics Through Science" unit in the eighth grade are given in this report. Six significant attitude differences were found and used to group students into eight attitude groups. The identifying characteristics of these groups are discussed in detail.…

This report describes the attempt of one school district to improve its elementary mathematics program. The program was modeled after the Nuffield project with an emphasis on activity learning. The report outlines objectives, materials, facilities, and teacher education procedures. Some descriptive statistics are presented which are used to…

This pamphlet is a synthesis of the discussions that took place at a conference on the teaching of elementary mathematics using a laboratory approach. Presented is a definition of a laboratory approach followed by synopses on different settings for a laboratory approach, the role of the teacher, student produced materials and the use of activity…

This easy-to-read manual for parents describes what a baby learns in the first year of life and suggests specific things parents or caregivers can do to encourage a baby to use his body, senses, and mind to communicate. Each chapter is concerned with 1 month of the infant's life and includes sections on (1) Baby's Viewpoint (discussion of the…

This paper describes two studies conducted to investigate young children's manipulative responses to materials in a free play situation and to examine the resultant learning. Study I: Each child played with either a simple or a complex set of materials during three play sessions. Learning was measured on a posttest of classification ability.…

An evaluation of the first year of operation of the elementary part of the Individualized Mathematics System (IMS) is reported in this document. The opening section describes the IMS course, where re-usable workpages guide students to work individually, often using manipulative materials, to meet carefully defined objectives at nine levels. The…

The purpose of this study was to obtain insights into the learning of concepts in metric and non-metric geometry by fifth and sixth grade students. A total of 102 students were divided into two groups characterized by the amount and type of concrete activities used. A pretest and two posttests were given. Results showed that older students and…

The results of a study of student attitudes toward mathematics before and after studying a "Mathematics Through Science" unit in the eighth grade are given in this report. Six significant attitude differences were found and used to group students into eight attitude groups. The identifying characteristics of these groups are discussed in detail.…

Triple-thick cardboard can be used to make many different things in the classroom. This workbook describes some of the materials which can be made, starting off with a detailed look at making a table. Instructions are also outlined, with illustrations, for making shelves, storage units, stools and chairs, boxes and blocks, wagons, panels and…

This paper examines some of the manipulative aids used in elementary mathematics instruction from the point of view of the cognitive structures needed to understand them. The number line, measurement activities, models for place value, and models for fractions are discussed. (SD)

Through a series of games, children can be given practice on making change and operating with money. (SD)