What Are Virtual Manipulatives?

Think about the tubs and trays of math pieces in your classroom. Base ten blocks. Fraction strips. Pattern blocks. Counters. Coins. Clocks.

These are the tools teachers have used for years to help students build and see math ideas.

Virtual manipulatives are simply those same tools — on the screen.

Students drag them, move them, and build with them just like the real pieces, but without handing anything out or picking anything up.