Mathematical games designed for children from kindergarten to grade five using buttons as counters are described. Each game description includes a brief discussion of the number and mathematical concepts it teaches. (JD)

Suggests using the holes in the tear-strip edges of continuous-feed computer paper to convey the magnitude of one million. (MKR)

Points out that the notion of "concrete" is relative and argues the advantages of, and recommendations for, using computer manipulatives. (MKR)

Describes an activity designed to help students understand the concept of a variable and the process of gathering like terms or simplifying algebraic expressions using egg cartons and plastic eggs. (MKR)

Describes the children's museum movement, exhibits common to children's museums, and the role of children's museums in providing interactive environments for young children to complement the learning that goes on in classrooms and at home. Provides contact information for five children's museums. (DR)

A hands-on simulation on spider web construction is described. Students recreate the mysteries of web construction by creating a yarn web with a pentagonal frame, 12 spokes, and 12 spiral loops. Contains instructions to the teacher for constructing the web board. Provides a procedure for the students to follow. (PR)

The author of EC 606 784 describes the background of her research, noting her experience with the "TOUCH MATH" manipulative materials to help students with mild disabilities acquire math facts and computational skills. (DB)

Uses match sticks to construct various polyhedra in the Euclidian space R3. Formalizes the idea of a match-stick construction and characterizes all obtainable points with such constructions algebraically. Specifies all the constructible ones among the uniform polyhedra. (Author/ASK)

Presents an activity involving balloons to help students understand characteristics of polymers. (MKR)

Presents five worksheets that contain hands-on geometry activities dealing with the ideas of quadrilateral, trapezoid, parallelogram, isosceles, kite, axis of symmetry, and rhombus. (MKR)

Tests the hypothesis that maturing prefrontal lobes play a role in the development of proportional reasoning skill because the prefrontal lobes are involved in the inhibition of task-irrelevant information and the representation of task-irrelevant information. Assigns students randomly to manipulative or verbal tutoring groups and tests both…

Reports on a study of 10 middle grades teachers' uses of manipulatives for teaching mathematics using interviews and observations to explore how and why the teachers used the manipulatives as they did. Concludes that using manipulatives was little more than a diversion in classrooms where teachers were not able to represent mathematics concepts…

Two mathematics activities introduce elementary students to geometry, using depth, width, and height. A primary level activity involves students with sorting and classifying geometric solids and with comparing numerical quantities. The activity requires building blocks or geometric solids. An intermediate level activity teaches students about…

Assesses the use of manipulative aids and how they are used in primary mathematics classrooms. (Author/CCM)

Considers the use of playdough as a manipulative to help children learn mathematics. Provides snapshots of various lessons using playdough. (Author/CCM)