When it comes to children learning about money, tossing coins in a piggy bank barely scratches the surface. 

Today’s math instruction demands creative, hands-on approaches that engage multiple senses and create deeper connections. Through multisensory math activities, children develop essential problem-solving skills while building a strong foundation in financial literacy.

Why Multisensory Learning Helps Kids Grasp Money Concepts

The learning process is most effective when it engages multiple senses simultaneously. 

Multisensory money activities help elementary students process mathematical concepts through sight, sound, and touch. This approach to mathematics education creates stronger neural pathways, leading to better retention and a deeper understanding of complex concepts.

According to educational psychology research, math manipulatives provide concrete models that bridge the gap between abstract ideas and student understanding. When young students can physically handle and manipulate objects while learning basic math, they develop a more concrete understanding of mathematical concepts like area, length, counting, and addition.

At a young age, students lack sufficient cognitive resources to understand mathematics in purely abstract terms. Using math manipulatives specifically designed for money concepts helps students in younger grades build confidence as they progress to more challenging math problems. Through regular practice with physical and virtual tools, students can develop both computational accuracy and problem-solving abilities.

Multisensory Approaches for Different Learning Preferences

Students learn best when multiple modalities for learning a concept are offered, and it’s not always the case that students have a specific preference. Here are some approaches that will help you incorporate even more multisensory learning into your student’s experience. 

Visual Learning Activities

Students with visual learning preferences thrive when using math manipulatives like base ten blocks and pattern blocks to represent monetary values. Using place value charts alongside actual currency helps reinforce the relationship between symbolic representations and concrete objects. Virtual math manipulatives and online math games can reinforce these concepts through digital engagement.

Some effective visual tools could include:

• Place value boards showing dollar and cent columns
• Pattern blocks with colors that correspond to different coin values
• Virtual manipulatives that demonstrate counting money
• Math centers with visual money-counting stations

Parents and instructors can support cognitive development by connecting these visual aids to real money handling. 

Kinesthetic Learning Activities 

Physical manipulatives are fantastic tools for kinesthetic learners. Using hands-on objects like fraction tiles and fraction circles helps students develop fine motor skills while practicing basic counting and money math. In a classroom setting, manipulatives might include:

• Sorting real or play coins by value
• Creating money amounts using base ten blocks
• Using fraction tiles to show dollar/cent relationships
• Hands-on store simulation activities for problem-solving

These activities support student learning by combining physical movement with mathematical thinking. The manipulatives in math instruction serve as bridges between concrete understanding and abstract concepts.

Auditory Learning Activities

Incorporating sound and discussion helps reinforce mathematical ideas in multiple ways. Skip counting songs, like these ones from Demme Learning, can help students understand the relationships between monetary values – for instance, counting by 5s for nickels, 10s for dimes, and 25s for quarters creates memorable patterns that stick with students.

Beyond songs, students benefit from explicit verbal instruction and discussion about mathematical processes. 

Activities could include:

• Asking students to explain their problem-solving process out loud when making change or calculating totals
• Group discussions about different strategies for counting mixed coins
• Math centers with recorded instructions for monetary calculations
• Money-themed word problems read aloud for comprehension practice
• Mathematical concept discussions that connect abstract ideas to concrete examples
• Partner activities where students take turns being the “customer” and “cashier,” practicing both speaking and listening skills with monetary transactions 

The Build-Write-Say approach is an excellent example of how Math-U-See integrates visual, kinesthetic, and auditory modalities. Students learn kinesthetically and visually by building hands-on scenarios using manipulatives and then writing the problem on paper. Auditory learning also occurs when they say the problem out loud and discuss it with their instructor.

Tools and Technology for Teaching Money Concepts

Today’s math tools for students blend traditional physical tools with modern technology. Virtual math manipulatives provide engaging ways to practice money skills from any location. When utilizing manipulatives, both physical and digital, students learn to make connections between concrete objects and symbolic representations.

Math-U-See’s integrated manipulatives kit includes physical math blocks and manipulatives in math instruction that support the conceptual understanding of money. Combined with digital resources from the Math-U-See Digital Toolbox, these create multiple representations of monetary concepts.

Effective math lessons incorporate all the materials needed for different fractions of dollars, helping students understand how fractions work in monetary contexts. Understanding base ten blocks and place value forms the foundation for more advanced money calculations.

Making Money Math Meaningful

The most effective way to ensure student engagement with money concepts is through real-world application. By connecting math processes to everyday scenarios, students develop problem-solving abilities they’ll use throughout life. 

Some practical applications include:

• Using addition and subtraction with real money
• Creating shopping lists with budgets 
• Practicing making change
• Planning simple savings goals
• Calculating discounts and sales tax

Learning mathematics through authentic experiences helps students develop a positive attitude toward math learning while building basic number sense and shape recognition. When students can solve problems in real-world contexts, complicated concepts become more accessible.

This is especially valuable in our increasingly abstract, digitized world. By giving students concrete experiences with mathematics, instructors bring the subject back to reality. This often makes it more accessible, especially for young children who have not yet developed skills with abstraction.

The best math manipulatives for money concepts support multiple learning modalities. Incorporating physical tools, digital resources, and real-world practice into lessons allows instructors to create engaging math centers that cater to diverse learning preferences and ability levels.

Building Lifelong Financial Understanding

Mathematics education focused on money concepts provides more than just computational skills—it establishes a fundamental understanding that serves students throughout their lives. Through multisensory activities and hands-on tools for elementary math, we can help all students grasp essential financial concepts regardless of their learning preferences.

A deep understanding of money concepts builds confidence in student learning and supports the development of broader mathematical skills. When students master these foundational concepts through engaging, multisensory approaches, they’re better equipped to tackle more advanced mathematical challenges later.

Want to make money concepts more engaging for your students? Our integrated manipulatives kit provides the concrete understanding students need for long-term success. Click here to learn more.