Investigating the use of manipulative materials in teaching fractions in primary six and its effects on pupils’ performance and attitudes towards the learning of fractions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to look into how teaching fractions with manipulatives influences the performance and attitudes of six primary school pupils in Aowin Municipality, Western North Region. Six teachers and elementary school pupils made up the population of the study, which employed a quasi-experimental research method. The study selected an 80-student sample using a quantitative sampling approach, of which 40 were given to the experimental group and 40 to the control group. 34 teachers of the sixth grade were also included in the sample. Data from the participants were gathered using a test and a questionnaire for the study. The study's research questions and guiding hypotheses were used to examine the results using descriptive and inferential data. The findings demonstrated a considerable improvement in the students' performance and attitude toward the lesson following the introduction of manipulatives to the study of passages. It is advised that the Ghana Education Services (GES) give public school teachers training and education to improve their capacity to choose and apply manipulative materials so as to improve pupils' performance and attitude toward fractions.