Virtual Math Manipulatives & Base-10 Blocks
Interactive base-ten blocks, ten frames and a number line to model place value, counting and addition.
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Add blocks to build a number
Tap or drag blocks onto the mat · tap a ten or hundred to break it apart · drag a block off the mat to remove it
Free Virtual Math Manipulatives for Elementary Classrooms
Concrete models help young learners see what numbers mean before they work with abstract symbols. These free virtual math manipulatives bring three classroom favorites to any screen: base-ten blocks on a place-value mat, two-color counters in ten frames, and an interactive number line. Use them to teach counting, place value, regrouping, making 10 and addition and subtraction strategies in kindergarten through third grade. Classroom Presentation Mode fills your smartboard with large, bright pieces and hides everything else, so every student can follow along.
Teach counting and place value in 3 steps
Choose a manipulative. Pick Base-Ten Blocks for place value, a Ten Frame for counting and making 10, or the Number Line for adding and subtracting with jumps. In base-ten mode you can also type a number like 347 and click Build.
Model the math together. Tap or drag blocks and counters onto the board. Tap a ten rod to break it into 10 ones, then use Make a ten to bundle them again — the same trade students make when they regroup. On the number line, tap a start number and then tap where to jump.
Hide the total and ask. Click Hide Total (or press T in presentation mode) so students count, skip-count or write the equation themselves, then reveal the answer. Clear Board resets the current tool for the next problem.
Ways to use it in your classroom
Ten frame quick-look warm-up
Choose Ten Frame, click Hide Total and press Random number for a fresh set of counters. Give the class a few seconds to look, then ask “How many? How many more to make 10?” Let students share how they saw it — “5 on top and 2 more” — before you reveal. Switch to Two frames for numbers to 20.
Partners of 10 with counters
Fill one ten frame with red counters, then tap a few to flip them to yellow. The Total panel reads “7 red + 3 yellow,” so kindergarten and first-grade students can say the matching equation, 7 + 3 = 10. Flip one more counter each round and ask the class what changed and what stayed the same.
Show subtraction with regrouping
For 52 − 17 in second grade, type 52 and click Build. There are only 2 ones, so tap a ten rod to break it into 10 ones — the mat now reads 40 + 12. Remove 7 ones and 1 ten, and 35 is left. A column count turns red when a place holds more than 9.
Skip-count on the number line
Pick the 0–100 number line, start at 0, set Jump size to 5 and press Jump again and again. The equation grows — 0 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 — while students count along. Hide the total first and the answer shows as a question mark, so the class predicts each landing spot before you reveal it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do virtual manipulatives work as well as hands-on blocks?
They work best together. Physical blocks build the first concrete understanding, while virtual manipulatives let the whole class see the same model on a projector, never run out of pieces and make regrouping quick to show and undo. Many teachers model on the board while students build with real blocks at their desks.
Can students use this on Chromebooks or iPads?
Yes. Everything runs in the browser with no login or download, and every block, counter and button is sized for touch. The board is saved on the device, so a refresh won’t wipe out a student’s work.
What can I teach with the number line?
Use the 0–10, 0–20 or 0–100 number line to model counting on, counting back, skip counting and addition and subtraction strategies. Each jump draws a labeled arc and the equation builds as you go, so students can explain every step.
How big a number can I build with the base-ten blocks?
Type any whole number from 0 to 999 and click Build to see it as hundreds, tens and ones. The mat holds up to 9 hundreds and up to 30 tens or 30 ones, so students can collect more than 9 in a column while they regroup. The Total panel shows the value and its expanded form, such as 300 + 40 + 7.
What grade levels are these manipulatives for?
They fit kindergarten through third grade. Ten frames suit counting, comparing and making 10 in K–1. The 0–10, 0–20 and 0–100 number lines cover counting on, counting back and skip counting in grades 1–2. Base-ten blocks to 999 support place value and regrouping in grades 1–3. Older students working with fractions or negative numbers will want the separate Number Line tool.
How do I teach counting back for subtraction on the number line?
Set Start at to the first number, for example 13, choose a jump size of 5 and press the minus Jump button. The marker hops left, an arc shows the jump and the equation reads 13 − 5 = 8. Hide the total first so students predict the landing spot. Undo removes the last jump if you want to try a different strategy.