Virtual Manipulatives!

Virtual Manipulatives! allows users access to digital tiles that represent different fractions, decimals, and percentages. From its main screen, users can tap the “Fraction,” “Decimals,” and/or “Percents” tab to access the different tiles. Next, users drag the tile from the tab pullout to the main screen, and users can arrange the tiles in any fashion they wish on their workspace. Additionally, users can tap the “Pencil” button on the top right of the screen to draw, write, or annotate on their workspace. Users can insert background images by tapping the “Camera” button and selecting a photo from their camera roll. Users can also tap the “Lined” button to access additional settings that include changing the shapes and colors of the manipulatives, how the manipulatives snap together, and if the manipulatives show their numbers. When finished, users can tap the “Folder” button to save an image of their workspace to their camera roll.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can present a mathematical problem or series of math problems to students and then require students to represent the math problem(s) using the manipulatives. To submit their work, students can save it to their camera roll and then email their teacher the saved image.
2. Students can write a word problem using an Office app and post it to a class website. Next, a classmate will then read the word problem that was posted and create a visual representation of how he/she solved the word problem using this app’s manipulatives and “Pencil” features. Finally, the student who solved the word problem with this app must save their work and upload it back to the class website as a response to the original word problem post.
3. Students can draw a picture or import a picture of a measurable unit (e.g., a pizza, ruler, a pie, change, etc.) and students can use the manipulatives and “Pencil” feature to demonstrate how much of the unit is shown, such as 1/3 of the pizza, 1/2 of a foot, 1/4 of a dollar. Students can save these images to their camera roll and email them to their teacher.
4. Students can write a decimal in their workspace and then an “=” sign following it. Next, students can slide the fraction or percentage manipulative that is the equivalent of the decimal they wrote. When ready, teachers can modify this activity so students write the fraction or percentage and then students slide the decimal manipulative that corresponds to it.

Screenshots