Cuisenaire rods are flexible enough to be used throughout the elementary years and beyond. Each size rod is a different color. The smallest rod is a one-centimeter cube. The length of each subsequent rod, up to a 10-rod, is increased by a one-centimeter cube. Children frequently discover this relationship on their own as they play and experiment freely with the rods. They can also be used with building blocks. For these experiments, each child needs a 74-piece set of Cuisenaire rods. Tell the students they are going to build a quilt pattern by forming pairs of rods that equal a 10-rod. They should start with 1 (placed on the right side) + 9 (next to the "1" on the left side). Place 2 + 8 parallel to and underneath the 1 + 9, and so on. After each student understands how to build the quilt pattern, divide the class into groups of four. The students in a group will sit at a table with two students on one side of the table, facing the other two students. Each student will build a quilt pattern so that it is a mirror image of the student next to them and directly across from them. Two of the students will be building their pattern "backwards." The two students sitting to the left on each side of the table will build their pattern as explained above. The other two students will reverse the order of each line of the quilt pattern. They will place the 1 on the left side and the 9 on the right, and so on.
Math manipulatives don't need to be professionally made. A collection of buttons makes a fun manipulative. For this experiment, each student needs a small plastic bag full of colored buttons. Allow the students time to examine the buttons. Ask the students to find different ways to classify some of the buttons in their bags (by color, size, number of holes, etc.). Tell the students to find at least four buttons of different sizes and to place them in order from the smallest to the biggest, then from the biggest to the smallest. Buttons also work for simple addition and subtraction problems.
Attribute blocks come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Each student needs a set of attribute blocks for this experiment. Ask the students to find attribute blocks that match the descriptions you give them, such as, "Find all the attribute blocks that are large and round." Tell the students to find similarities and differences in the blocks as they make various groupings.
Standard, six-sided dice become math manipulatives for these experiments. Divide the class into groups of two. Each group needs a pair of dice. One student rolls the dice and both students add the two numbers facing up at the end of the roll. As soon as one of them knows the answer, they say it aloud. Award points for correct answers and deduct points for incorrect answers.