56 Tactile Math Ideas: Ideas and Suggestions for Development of Basic Concepts & Early Maths Skills

Submitted by Gwyn McCormack on Oct 06, 2014

Children who are blind or visually impaired, including those who have additional disabilities or deafblindness, benefit from lots of hands-on exploration of real objects from the natural environment. Exploration of various household items can help to develop basic concepts about size, shape, color, and lay the foundation for classification skills, matching, and sorting. They can compare groups of objects and find the one that is "big" or "little" or "same". At the same time, experimenting with common objects provides lots of opportunities to practice counting and arranging items, and preparing for more advanced mathematical skills, such as addition and subtraction.

	To Develop Skills of Counting, Matching and Sorting, Categorizing, and Discriminating Using different textures, make sounds, play and extend the learning. Rattle the spoon in the cup, fill the cup and the jug with water find out which holds the most, squeeze water from the sponges. Match the socks, cate- gorise the brushes, find all the circular, square shapes, longest, shortest objects.
	Understanding the Qualities of Objects: 'Woodness of the wooden spoon' Experience and maximize the learning opportunities: Shortest—longest Handles of wooden spoon, different top (fork) Categorize by spoon head: Thinnest—widest Measure using the spoon as a unit of measurement.
	Understanding the Qualities of Objects: 'Whisking of the Whisk' Explore the qualities of the different whisks: Whisk bubbles in a bowl Make cupcakes using whisk Make a mobile with whisks Add plastic whisk to the collection Explore electric hand whisk (not plugged in) Listen to the sound each whisk makes when it is used. Find out which is the heaviest— lightest whisk
	Concept Hanger (Hanger £4.50 from IKEA) Hang Bracelets, metal objects, wooden objects, square/circular/rough/smooth/cold to touch objects. Change the objects each week, collect the objects with the child. Categorize the objects Sort by shape, size, length, texture, height
	Concept bags R for Rolling (Objects that roll) Rolling pin, pastry cutter, paintbrush, glue, cork, small ball, large ball, lens cleaner, inner from kitchen roll.
	Metalness of Metal In a metal tin Oval metal tin Bracelets Shirt cufflets Clock Bolt Pastry cutter
	Classification/Concept Bags—H For Hair bands Range of hair bands and hair accessories to classify by shape, texture, decoration.
	Classification/Concept Bags — Silver and Shiny Bag (two attributes) Beads, belt with sequins, make up bag, buckle, boxes, bracelet
	Understanding Number as a Whole ’Numerousness' The oneness of one, the ‘twoness’ of two, the ‘threeness’ of three. Use the detachable number line to add to the front cover of each box. The box contents can be used to understand the oneness of one, the ‘twoness’ of two, as well as to understand the ‘pencilness’ of the pencil, or the woodeness of the wooden spoon. Pencils, fans, bottles, spoons, toy cars, brushes, any objects from around the house.
	Sorting / Matching Shells, buttons, beads, etc.
	Big and Little Small and large objects from around the house or from within the child's daily environment.
	Same and different Objects which are exactly the same and objects which are different, some with more subtle differences, e.g. pattern on the bracelets
	Positive Eye’s Supermarket Comparison Largest—small Tallest—shortest Widest—narrowest Match shapes Learn about capacity
	Ordering by Size Collect a selection of bottles to order by size. Categorise by shape, opening, lid type, material made of.
	Sorting by Shape Ordering by Size Largest to smallest using pots, jam jar and milk container lids
	Ordering / Comparing Tallest to shortest activity: Measure each object and place in order. Long tray from IKEA used with foam board shaped to tray and added in as an activity base.
	Create Games and Activities to Match 3D Shapes to Real Objects and 2D Shapes Use Lazy Sue or a large tray divided into four areas. (include names of shapes, number of sides)
	Understanding Shape: Matching 3D to 2D Shapes Use wedding favour boxes and 2D shapes cut out in foam board with zychem raised outline stuck over the top of the 2D shape
	Matching 3D to 2D shapes and naming the shape. Real object—3D model—2D model of plane—name of shape—number of sides. Bag of shapes from RNIB Long tray—IKEA Foam board cut to size of tray to make interchangeable work activity card. 2D shape cut out in foam board with zychem outline shape stuck on top.
	Counting Many objects can be used to support counting. It is better to use everyday objects, those from the child’s daily environment. Here are some thick drinking straws with 5 mini pumpkins on each one, useful for counting, early times table.
	Early Number Line Use same size boxes and add number to each to make a number line, add the appropriate number of objects to each box, encourage child to read the Braille number and count the correct number of objects. Child to independently find objects for each numbered box. Extend learning and add a different letter to each box — e.g. find 2 objects beginning with the letter b.
	Early Number Line Stacking rings and stacking beakers make good number lines and can also be used for other activities, smallest to largest. Beakers can be turned over and filled with the appropriate number of objects.
	Early Number Line Bucket Number Line—add number to each bucket and appropriate number of objects to each. Add letter to each bucket, e.g. To spell the word bucket and add number of objects beginning with each letter.
	Number Line Counting, adding, subtracting activities Detachable individual boards stuck on with Velcro, can be used for other counting activities. Use with spinner to play snakes and ladders (up and down the number line)
	Number Line Counting activity— each number has the name of the word, the number and the counters in a dish.
	Make homemade dice up to 3 Write number in letters using discs Write numbers in large print or braille
	Number Line On laminated cards, with braille sticky back numbers attached. Cards attached to a line of Velcro on a foam board
	Abacus Four dowelling sticks stuck in a base board, each labelled with units, tens and hundreds Beads of different shape for each column.

	Addition and Subtraction Activities Use the spinner / dice to play the game. When it lands on a 6, spin the Lazy Sue. Read the number from the top of the box that stops in front of you, open the box and take a number out, add, multiply, subtract or divide the number. Choose correct answer from number line and place in pot in middle.
	Subtraction and Addition Activity Spin the spinner to get a 6 then choose a flag from the central pot, read the sum, there is a number missing, place the flag in the correct tower which has the missing number at its base. Lazy Sue with activity mat added. Unifix used to make towers Unifix velcroed to base with number added in sticky back braille.
	Fourness of Four: Sharing between Four, Counting Four Four cups Four plates For four people, how many cups, plates? Take one plate away, how many left? Take one cup away, how many left?
	Sharing: Dividing and sharing between two. Using plastic food containers—two compartment salad box
	Sharing Between 2, 3, 4 ,5 ,6. Or can be used for matching patterns and shapes activities Wedding favour boxes added with Velcro to foam board activity base. Shapes added to the top of each box.
	Sharing Between 2, 3, 4 ,5 ,6. Use a food tray (mini steak pies) and the discs from the inside of bottle lids, these make good sturdy counters.
	Sharing the Cake Using mouse mats on a Lazy Sue placed on top of each other. Each divided into 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 respectively. Add names of children on laminated tickets and invite them to share the ‘cake.’
	Making Patterns Shapes are attached with Velcro.
	Matching Patterns Matching patterns, subtle patterns made of different textures and also matching lines of patterns (see picture on right) Make patterns on laminated strips, use small cubes or flat felt shapes (Hobbycraft)
	Shopping List Layout coins required to buy item. Find out cost of each item. Add items together on shopping list. Use large piece of foam board, divided into sections Words for shopping list made on laminated strips with sticky back braille secured to surface. Make smaller laminated squares with prices of each item.
	Homemade dice Counting up to 3