Learning and Communicating About Fractions
Using Web Based Virtual Manipulatives

Pattern Blocks

Margo Lynn Mankus

mmankus@gmu.edu

Rods
Fraction Bars

Session 183
NCTM National Conference
Orlando, FL
April, 2001

Come experience activities and engage in dialogue that can help develop the understanding of fractions as parts of unit wholes in real context, as parts of a collection, and as locations.

NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
Grade Band 3-5 Expectations for Number Sense

Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems:

  • Develop understanding of fractions as parts of unit wholes, as parts of a collection, as locations on number lines, and as divisions of whole numbers
  • Recognize and generate equivalent forms of commonly used fractions, decimals, and percents

Special thanks are given to the developer of the
Java Virtual Manipulative Applets,
Jacobo Bulaevsky.
You will need a JAVA-capable Browser to run the applet.
If you leave this page, please use your BACK button to return.

Recommended Browser

Set your monitor to 800 by 600 pixels for the best view!

Today's Agenda!

Getting Familiar with Virtual Manipulatives

When you click on a Virtual Manipulative Applet button below, a window will open up with the applet running. You will have two windows open. You want to size the windows so that you can switch from this page to the applet and back again. Here is a suggested sizing of the screen. The applet page is on the left and another page is shown on the right.

Window Setup

Once the manipulative is open, you can open an activity below from this page. Then just click on the activity to read the question then click on the applet page to work!

You will be able to print the work you create on the applet by using the Shift Print Screen key (PC). You will have to paste the screen into a word processor and then print.

Virtual Manipulative Applet Buttons

These applets will open in a separate window.

Pattern Block Applet   Base Ten Block Applet
Integer Block Applet   Fraction Bar Applet

Activities

  1.   What's My Order?
  2. Pattern Blocks - What's My Number?
  3. Base Ten Blocks - Whole Number Algorithms and a Bit of Algebra!
  4. Integer Rods - Investigating LCM and GCF Using Rods

  5. More to Come!

Hand Made Manipulatives

More Virtual Manipulative Information

Some Other Great Applets, Activities, and Research



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Copyright 2001 by Margo Lynn Mankus