How to Teach Hands on Math

In many ways, I think math is one of the easiest subjects to make hands-on. You use math for cooking, for most games, and in many other areas. However, at the same time, Future Ticia 2025, who is updating this post, is also aware that as kids get older, we don’t stop and take the time to think about these things, and our lessons become more about paper and pencils. I will also say that I have more than once, as I have pulled out my rulers for sewing, I’ve realized all of the ways I’m using the various geometry lessons I cursed in high school, and that I’m turning these lessons into quite literal hands-on math lessons.

So, I’m updating this post. I wrote this 11 years ago, and I love it. It’s really cool, but it’s also 11 years old, and I’ve changed how I write stuff, so I’m going to do a bunch of updating stuff, and then share it today, August 8, 2025. Yay! Let’s go! But first, I’m going to take a break for lunch.

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How to Teach Hands-on Math Activities

Back when I first wrote this, I for some reason did not link to specific posts I had written that pointed to what we had already done like this. Probably because I had not written a whole lot of posts at this point (I still haven’t, because I usually did not take a lot of pictures mid-activity of this).

So, these are theoretical and generic ideas of ways to help your kids get moving and set math in real-life:

Look for real-life uses of the area you’re using. Look for shapes in your life, drag out some toys, and use them for addition and subtraction problems.
Draw your problems (disclosure: this one does not work for my kids; their drawings are completely off subject). But I’ve heard that for some kids, drawing helps them engage more.
Play board games (here’s a whole list of math games, not even counting the simple adding for movement)
Use real objects to act out problems; this is one of my kids’ favorites. I’ll have more on this in the next section.
Use manipulatives for math (I’ll get into that more in the next section).
Use a beach ball, and answer the math problem that your hand is touching. An example of this with geography: How to memorize the continents.

Now, let’s get to some specific math posts I have that do this.

How to Teach Hands-on Math, what to buy

There are so many things you can use to make math hands-on. Here are a few of our favorites.

For the most part, I’ve bought similar items to these at local stores because I like to sit there and torture my kids as I debate between different versions of the same thing.

Interlocking Base Ten Starter Set– Base 10 blocks are a must-have manipulative for young kids; they help them visualize math problems. I recommend the interlocking ones because then you have the added benefit of being able to join them together to illustrate the point (and my kids love to build with them). If you use Math-U-See, they have specific blocks for their curriculum.
Calendar and Weather Pocket Chart- This is the super deluxe version, but calendar pocket charts are great for showing dates and helping your kids get an idea of what is going on. The weather function lets you introduce graphing in a low-key way. I’d also recommend the NeuYear Calendar, it’s great for showing visually the passage of time. Also, check out Preschool Calendar Time.
Three Bear Family Rainbow Counters– These seem to be a requirement for any preschool or kindergarten classroom. They’re sturdy, indestructible, and have so many applications. Sort by size, sort by color, and add up how many red and blue you have. Learning Resource also makes counters in just about any category you can name. But the 3 Bear counters have the most versatility because of have both size and color for sorting.
Rainbow Fraction Deluxe Circles- A must when introducing fractions, or some other version of this, my kids were not getting this until we had them
Melissa & Doug Play Money Set- We have this exact set, and it provides so many opportunities to learn how to make change and get the right coins, also I like the wooden storage it comes with.
1/4 in Rule Graph Paper- Graph paper is great for illustrating many different geometry and multiplication problems. I have to admit I usually search for FREE online graph paper and name the size I want, then print as needed. But if you want some just handy right there, this is the way to go.
Primary Bucket Balance, great for comparing size and weight. Also, some extras go with this balance bucket, which you can get for comparing numbers that are weighted correctly
100+ Pack of Random Polyhedral Dice in Multiple Colors Plus Free Pouch Set by Wiz Dice– I buy my dice at a local toy store and get the exact ones I want, BUT, if you don’t have that opportunity, this is a great way to get A LOT of dice for a good price. Dice can be a fun way to work on any of the four major functions (addition/subtraction, multiplication/division). If you do a quick Google search for dice games, you’ll find more than you can count.
Clever Catch Multiplication Ball and Clever Catch Addition Ball– I asked Batman his favorite math game, and he said these, then told me we needed to blow them up again. You can achieve the same thing with a normal beach ball and writing on it, but I had an addition one from when I taught.
Hundreds Pocket Chart- Any former teacher of young kids will tell you, pocket charts are a must-have, as many as you can. I didn’t get one of these when I was teaching, so I don’t have this. I have a Numbers 1-100 Chart. But, both have great applications for learning to count, looking for odd and even, multiplication, counting by 5’s and 10’s. On and on and on. Princess uses our Hundreds chart all the time for addition.

Hands-on Math online

I just deleted all of what I originally wrote; most of those blogs are not writing anymore, so that is useless. Instead, I am going to link to some sites that inspire a combination of online and offline math fun that is a great way to get kids inspired about math learning.

Beast Academy Playground- this is a combination of online and offline for math games, and I like that combination for getting kids thinking logically.
Knowre Math- a gamified math curriculum
I need to double-check because I thought I had a few others…