An Exploratory Study of Osmo Tangram and Tangram Manipulative in an Elementary Mathematics Classroom

Abstract

This exploratory study considered the literature on the history of manipulatives, with attention to tangrams, and examined the use of manipulatives in the elementary classroom through the Osmo Tangram. Specifically, manipulatives can be utilized in assisting elementary students to develop mathematical ability and achievement, with an emphasis on spatial sense. This paper describes design features of first generation virtual manipulatives, the amalgam of real and virtual manipulatives (e.g. Osmo Tangram), and results of an exploratory observational study of Osmo Tangram at the elementary level. Findings are discussed tailored to the future design and implementation of integrating tangram into mathematics instruction.