Use graphs and charts to show older elementary school students the meaning behind figures. For many students, math problems may appear pointless, having little relation to real-life situations. It is important to emphasize why math matters and how it helps us understand reality. For example, if the students are learning about percentages, use a pie chart to show what percentages really mean. If the students are learning about the behavior of something over time, use a graph to show them trends in the figures.
Draw or use a picture to represent a particular math story problem. It is likely that elementary school students are used to being read to while following along with the illustrations in the book. Thus, using a picture to explain a particular math problem will seem natural to many students. This method will help the students visualize concepts that can be difficult to follow in the written or spoken word. For example, asking "An apple tree had 20 apples on it and then four fell off. How many are left?" may be difficult for a young student to visualize. However, if you draw a picture of an apple tree with 20 apples and then erase four apples, the problem is made easier and the concept of subtraction can be understood.
Use tables to explain the importance of organization in mathematics. Math problems are often difficult to solve because it's hard to know where to start, or even what is being asked. Complex math problems that include many components and variables can be organized in a table to discover what information is known and what information is sought. For example, if a math story problem involves several characters all of whom have various characteristics, a table listing the characters' names and their correlating traits will greatly help students understand the problem.
Manipulatives are tangible objects such as building blocks, toy money and LEGOs that can be used as props in a math problem. Many kids that are "hands-on" learners will appreciate the opportunity to make sense of a math problem by physically taking part in it. These tools work really well for very young students who are just beginning to understand the concepts of counting, adding and subtracting. As long as the students understand how the objects correlate to the math problem and what each object represents, manipulatives can be a very successful learning tool.