Lessons by Molly: Eight Simple Manipulatives for Teaching Tens and Ones

Students are actively engaged in math lessons when they handle and take charge of objects. Instead of waiting for one turn to solve a problem on the whiteboard, all students become problem-solvers with a hands-on approach to place value. Additionally, manipulatives offer concrete representations of numbers. This article offers eight ideas for developing a well-stocked supply of manipulatives for teaching tens and ones. The focus of this piece is not a methodology talk, although some strategies for teaching place value integrate into the explanation of materials.

1. Base Ten Blocks

Base ten blocks are a mainstay manipulative for teaching place value. The blocks include units for the one's place, rods for the ten's, and flats for the hundred's. There is also a cube to represent the thousand's place. Consider purchasing base ten blocks with the same color for tens, hundreds, and thousands. Uniform colors allow teachers to assess whether learning is taking place instead of memorizing the values by a color-coded system. Students can use base ten blocks on their desks with or without place value mats. The teacher can call out numbers from one to one hundred twenty while the students represent numbers with their base ten blocks. Base ten blocks are great for small group lessons, but whole group instruction requires large quantities. Purchasing enough base ten blocks for the entire class can be cost-prohibitive. Thankfully, there are economical paper versions of base ten blocks easily printed on colored cardstock paper. Download a FREE base ten blocks printable with five unique place value mats at the end of this post.

2. Craft Sticks with Elastic Band Fasteners

Craft sticks and elastic band fasteners are another way to represent tens and ones. Find them at supercenter stores and craft shops. They are available in several sizes and colors. Unlike base ten blocks, students involve themselves in the process of bundling into groups of tens. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, BUNDLE!" Students use elastic band fasteners to bundle groups of tens. Children who cannot use elastic band fasteners can group the tens inside plastic cups. Children repeat the process to make several bundles of tens.

3. Straws with Elastic Band Fasteners

There are all kinds of straws available in local grocery stores. Some varieties, such as paper straws, are more environmentally friendly than plastic straws. Straight straws (not flexible) can also be bundled similarly to craft sticks. Cut in half to double the number of manipulatives. Use the exact manner of activity with straws as with craft sticks. Count to ten, bundle, and repeat.

4. Cotton Swabs and Elastic Band Fasteners

Perhaps one of the least expensive manipulatives to use are cotton swabs. Use them in the same manner as craft sticks and straws. Two large (500-count) cotton swabs packages may be sufficient for each child to solve place value problems within 50. An added benefit is that cotton swabs do not require as much space on a student desk or a place value mat as craft sticks or straws. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, BUNDLE!" Repeat until the students have several groups of tens. Then use on student desks or place value mats.

5. Paper Clips and Mini Accent Papers

Bundles of tens are not suitable for students with visual closure difficulties. Children that demonstrate visual closure issues do not identify objects when only parts are visible. Bundles of craft sticks, straws, and cotton swabs offer an obscured view of each when bundled. Paper clips attached to mini accent papers can represent groups of tens, with each paper clip seen as a whole, two-sided object.

6. Mini Stickers on Paper Strips

Another way students can see whole objects at a glance is to use mini stickers. Mount ten stickers on strips of cardstock paper. Use paper squares to mount individual stickers representing ones. Purchase three packages (810-count) of mini stickers. This amount will provide enough materials for a class of 24 students. (Creating nine sets of tens and ten ones per student.)

7. Negative-Space on Paper Strips

Teacher frugality extraordinaire! The gift of ingenuity is to be able to create something from nothing. When there is no budget for mini stickers or paper clips, use what is available. All that is needed are paper strips and a hole punch. This manipulative allows students to see and count whole obects from holes. Punch ten holes in a paper strip. Punch a single hole in a paper tent. Repeat until there are enough materials for students to practice combination of tens and ones represented as holes.

8. Mini Erasers in Containers

Mini erasers are possibly the most appealing manipulative used with place value. They are not practical for numbers exceeding thirty but can be used to practice place value with teen numbers and numbers within the twenties. Each child participating in the activity will need thirty mini erasers and two small containers such as cupcake liners. Have the children count out ten mini erasers and place them in a container. Repeat so that the children have two groups of tens. Their remaining mini erasers represent the ones. Small containers will easily fit on a place value mat, as will the loose ones.

Diversifying the manipulatives used in place value lessons satisfies more than a few learning styles and abilities. It also keeps children interested in repeated practice at the same skill. The ideas listed in this post may inspire thinking about other materials that can become place value manipulatives. Each classroom situation is unique, and therefore, the eight suggested materials will have positives and negatives depending on the circumstances. The chart below evaluates five features of the materials used and rates each feature on a scale of one to five, with "five" being the most desirable. The chart does not include all features to consider. It does not evaluate a child's ease of handling the materials, the workable number of ones and tens, the available space required to store and use the materials, or the adaptability of use with other instructional content.

Once students have demonstrated mastery of tens and ones with concrete materials, they are ready to move on to the next step. As children develop new learning about place value, pictorial representations of tens and ones are ideal for the transitional phase before abstract (100% symbols) lessons can occur. Worksheets and electronic games are excellent models when the images are familiar to the children. Task cards also help strenthen place value skills and double as an assessment tool for educators. Here is a set of task cards for tens and ones that directs the learner to recall his/her own experiences with bundling craft sticks. Click on one of the images below to view at my shop.