To introduce the idea of grouping by tens and ones to kindergarten students, the best manipulatives to use are interlocking cubes and dimes and pennies.
1. **Interlocking Cubes**: These cubes can be easily connected and stacked to represent groups of ten and individual units. Kindergarten students can physically group them into bundles of ten (representing tens) and leftover cubes (representing ones). This hands-on approach helps in visualizing and understanding the concept of grouping by tens and ones.
2. **Dimes and Pennies**: Using real coins like dimes (worth 10 cents) and pennies (worth 1 cent) can also be effective. Students can physically group dimes into sets of ten to understand the concept of tens and then use pennies for ones. This real-world application helps in connecting the abstract concept of grouping to everyday objects.
Both these manipulatives provide tactile experiences that engage students and make the concept of grouping by tens and ones more concrete and tangible for them to grasp. By using interlocking cubes and dimes/pennies, Ms. Musgrave can create interactive and meaningful learning experiences for her kindergarten students.
