Hands on math? Not in 6th grade! But yes, you can! When the word manipulative was used in the upper levels, I used to cringe. I always thought that upper level math can’t use blocks, squares, and cubes to learn. Well, I was wrong! Through our Engage New York math curriculum the students and I have found that these tools can be a vital part in better understanding skills that are being taught…even in 6th grade!
Manipulatives help students construct physical models of abstract mathematical ideas. Oftentimes, math is seen as something that can only be done on paper and pencil, but through manipulatives it brings the learning to another level. It is a joy to see the students “finally get it” when using manipulatives to aid their learning. Hands on math, in 6th grade? YES you can!