Jelly beans can be used to solve addition problems.
The concepts and skills associated with mathematics often prove to be difficult for some to grasp. An effective way to eradicate this problem is by using manipulatives, or small objects that students are able to handle, to teach math-related topics. Manipulatives offer students a concrete representation of mathematical functions, making the subject easier to comprehend. Manipulatives enhance instruction methods for problem solving in multiple ways.
Addition
Manipulatives are an effective tool to use when teaching students add. Provide students with a collection of small items, such as marbles, stickers or sequins, and write out an addition problem on a sheet of paper. Instruct students to count out an amount of manipulatives that is equivalent to each of the addends in the problem. For example, in the problem 10+2, students should count out 10 manipulatives and two manipulatives. To determine the sum of the problem, they count the total number of items.
Subtraction
Subtraction is another mathematical concept that manipulatives can aid in teaching. To teach subtraction with manipulatives, write out a subtraction problem on a piece of paper. Provide students with an amount of small objects that they can easily handle and count. To solve the subtraction problem, instruct students to count out a number of items that is equivalent to the minuend (first number) and to take away a number of items from the minuend that the subtrahend (second number) illustrates. To determine the answer, students count the remaining manipulatives. For instance, in the problem 7-2, students should count out seven items and remove two from the seven. Upon counting the remaining items, they'll learn that the answer to the problem is five.
Fractions
Fractions are another area that manipulatives can be used to solve. To teach fractions using manipulatives, provide students with an amount of items and instruct them to count the total number of the items. Explain that the total number of items represents the denominator of a fraction. For example, if you've provided students with 10 jelly beans, the denominator will be 10. Ask them to determine the fraction of jelly beans that are particular colors; the total number of each particular color will represent the numerator in the fraction problem. For instance, if there are two green jelly beans, the numerator would be two and the fraction would be 2/10.
Graphing
Use manipulatives to make graphing easier to understand. Distribute an amount of items, different colored feathers, for example. Instruct children to count the total amount of each color feather. Draw an X-axis on a piece of paper and write each color feather along the axis. On the Y-axis, write numbers that will represent the amount of each color feather. Have students create a bar graph by drawing and coloring in bars that illustrate the amount of each color feather they possess. Use the graph as a means of teaching children read a graph. For example, ask them to use the graph to determine what color has the most feathers and what color has the least feathers. Explain that using the graph is an easier and quicker way to determine this information than actually counting out the feathers.
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