Manipulative

A physical object used in education to help students learn abstract concepts through hands-on exploration and manipulation. In mathematics, common manipulatives include blocks, counters, fraction tiles, and geometric shapes. For students who are blind or have low vision, manipulatives are particularly important because they provide tactile access to concepts typically taught through visual representations. Examples include Braille Math Blocks, tactile number lines, and devices like the Cubarithm Slate. Modern "smart" manipulatives can connect to digital simulations, enabling multimodal learning that combines physical touch with auditory feedback.