Virtual Manipulatives

I recently explored the Congruent Triangles manipulative under grades 3-5 Geometry. Although congruency is a review for 5th grade students, some kids still struggle with the difference between similar and congruent figures. Using this manipulative, students do more than simply label shapes as congruent or similar. This activity allows them to manipulate predetermined lines in order to make triangle that are congruent. In my opinion, this is a helpful activity because the students actually create the shapes they are using. In this way, the concept is made more concrete and meaningful to them than if they were simply classifying someone elses shapes as congruent or similar.