Using the Poly-Universe toolkit in elementary classes

Abstract

Abstract. The Poly-Universe toolkit was created by a visual artist, who tried to combine mathematics with simple colours and art. It is suitable for all ages, especially for students with different interests. The game has three basic shapes: triangles, circles and squares, all coloured red, green, yellow or blue. The forms and colours of the set encourage creativity, and is a very good motivational tool that can be used as an interesting didactic tool for lessons. In terms of teaching, it can be incorporated in almost any primary school subject, as well as in kindergarten. Playing with the toolkit can facilitate the transition from kindergarten to school. When teachers use tangible manipulatives as teaching aids, they can facilitate pupils’ understanding of concepts related to numbers, operations, geometry, algebra, measurement, data analysis and probability. Effective manipulatives and games play a crucial role in promoting mathematical understanding, supporting learners in building, reinforcing and connecting different representations of mathematical concepts, while maintaining playfulness.