Ultimate List of Printable Math Manipulatives & Games

Charlotte Mason espoused using concrete objects for math lessons, and I totally agree. I know that Emma learned math concepts much faster and with more enjoyment when there was a hands-on element rather than mere numbers on a page. She used math manipulatives all the way into fifth grade, and I admit that we still have some math cubes on the shelf just in case. Also, I made a deliberate effort to keep the math toys accessible to her for free play at any time.

Don’t be in a hurry to move your children from concrete objects to mental math. Using manipulatives in no way negates the math learning!

When you need a math manipulative right now, these free printable templates can come to your rescue. Although not nearly as sturdy as a purchased wooden or plastic set, paper manipulatives can serve their purpose well. They are instantly available, easy to print and cut out, and disposable after they’ve been used for a few weeks. You can customize them with colored or even patterned paper. You can involve your kids in the assembly process, making the job easier while piquing their interest in the activities.

Print them on cardstock for better durability. Laminating is another great way to extend the life of these freebies. And some printables can be inserted into page protectors and used with whiteboard markers. Just wipe off and reuse.

I recommend this article — How to Make the Most of Math Manipulatives (PDF) by Marilyn Burns — to help you get the biggest educational value from your hands-on activities. (This article is written from a classroom perspective; so adjust as necessary for the homeschool environment.) A web version of part of that larger article can be found here: 7 Musts For Using Manipulatives.

I’ve listed what you can find at each site in case you’re looking for something specific.

1.  Houghton Mifflin Math (pdf)

This site has so much it can be overwhelming. Here’s how to navigate to the printable manipulatives: choose a grade level, then Teaching Tools. Repeat this process with various grade levels to find different printable games and hands-on manipulatives. To make it easier, here are the links to each grade.

• grade 1
• grade 2
• grade 3
• grade 4
• grade 5
• grade 6

2.  Hand Made Manipulative Instructions (html)

• Pattern Blocks
• Base-Ten Blocks
• Base-Five Blocks
• XY-Blocks – Set of X, X2, XY, Y, and Y2 blocks.
• Attribute Blocks
• Rods
• Color Tiles
• Graph Paper

3.  SEN Teacher (pdf)

• nets (3D models)
• clocks
• number cards
• coin worksheets
• coin cards
• coin fans
• math spinner
• coin dominoes
• volume cubes
• place value cards
• number lines
• graphs

4.  Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop (pdf)

printable games for grades 1-5

5. Kentucky Center for Mathematics (most files in both pdf and doc formats)

This site does require you to log in with an email address, but the files are free.

• compass
• hundreds chart
• numeral track
• fraction rulers

6. Mathematics Enhancement Program (pdf)

• Number Cards
• Number Lines
• Sign Cards
• Shape Cards
• Shape Cards with dots

7.  Game Boards from Tim’s Printables (pdf)

game board templates in both color and black and white for creating your own games

8. Printable Manipulatives by Ron Larson and Robyn Silbey (pdf)

• Fractions, Decimals, and Number Lines
• Place Value Charts
• Functions and Coordinate Graphs
• Geometry
• Graphic Organizers
• Algebra Tiles
• Base-Ten Blocks
• Integer Counters
• Tangram
• Rongram
• Pattern Blocks
• Math Card War
• Papers

9. Mathematics Blackline Masters Grades P to 9 (both pdf and doc)

This is a Canadian site that has nearly every printable manipulative you can ask for. Here are a few examples:

• fraction circles, pieces, and strips
• grid paper
• nets (3D models)
• dominoes
• multiplication charts
• measurement strips
• number lines
• number charts
• pattern blocks
• tangrams

10. Printable Math Games at Learn With Math Games (pdf)

A few printable math games with directions, divided by math concept.

11. Laura Candler’s Math File Cabinet (pdf)

These samples from Laura’s books are gorgeous! She offers freebies in these categories:

• Whole Numbers
• Decimals
• Graphing & Statistics
• Fractions
• Geometry
• Time & Measurement
• Problem Solving
• Misc Math

This post is featured on The Massive Guide for Homeschooling Math. Click to see more great math posts.