The Use of Manipulative in Teaching Elementary Mathematics

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of manipulative (concrete learning materials) in teaching elementary mathematics. The study employed a pretest post-test quasi experimental design. The study was conducted in two grade 3 sections of San Agustin Elementary School in the school year 2016-2017. The experimental group was taught mathematics using the manipulative while the control group was taught mathematics using the conventional method. Data were collected and analyzed from both the experimental and control groups using T-test, Paired T-test, and standard deviation. As a result of the research, the pre test and post test scores of experiment and control groups were found to differ significantly in favor of post test in both groups. There was a significant mean gain difference in the pupils’ pre test and post test scores in mathematics exposed to manipulative and conventional method. Generally, the use of manipulative in teaching mathematics is more effective than the use of conventional method.