Children in early grades learn mathematics more effectively when they use physical objects in their lessons. Numerous studies of mathematics achievement at different grade and ability levels show that children benefit when real objects are used as aids in learning mathematics. Objects that students can look at and hold are particularly important in the early stages of learning a math concept because they help the student understand by visualizing. Students can tie later work to these concrete activities.
Students do as well with inexpensive or homemade materials as with costly, commercial versions.
The cognitive development of children and their ability to under- stand ordinarily move from the concrete to the abstract. Ph.D. Dissertation, Ohio State University, Columbus. Review of Educational Research, Vol. The Child's Conception of Numbers.