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Manipulative Tool

  • Updated

Manipulatives are draggable images that students can move and interact with directly on a slide.

Use manipulatives to:

  • Create drag-and-drop activities

  • Build matching or sorting tasks

  • Provide movable math tools (counters, shapes, base ten blocks, etc.)

Classkick toolbar in Edit mode with the Add Manipulative icon highlighted.

1) Add a Manipulative

1. Open an assignment and click into a slide.

2. Click the Add Manipulative icon.

3. Click SELECT FILE.

4. Choose the image you want to use.

5. (Optional) Crop the image.

6. Click Next.

7. Click FINISH.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • You can only upload one image at a time using the Manipulative tool.

  • Add Another allows you to insert additional images from the same uploaded file.

    • To upload a different file, complete the current upload first, then start a new one.

  • To add different images, repeat the upload process.

2) Add Multiple Copies of the Same Image

Rather than uploading the same image multiple times, you can copy/paste the manipulative multiple times using the Duplicate Elements tool or keyboard shortcuts.

Duplicate Elements:

  1. Click on the manipulative. 
  2. Select the Duplicate Elements icon in the toolbar.
Duplicate Element.png

Keyboard Shortcuts

To duplicate a manipulative:

  • Windows: CTRL + C
  • Mac: COMMAND + C

Then paste the manipulative:

  • Windows: CTRL + V
  • Mac: COMMAND + V

This allows you to quickly create multiple draggable copies.

3) Video Tutorials

Toolbar: Manipulative

Watch this video for a walkthrough of adding and using manipulatives.

Classkick Coach Example

See how teachers are using manipulatives in real classrooms.

NOTE: This example demonstrates the iPad app, so the interface may look slightly different from the web version.

4) Tips for Efficient Use

Create Transparent Images (Workaround)

  • Transparent backgrounds are not currently supported inside Classkick, but there is a workaround:

    • To create a transparent background before uploading, use a background removal tool (such as remove.bg) and then upload the edited image as a manipulative.

Create a Manipulative Bank (Recommended)

To save time:

Option 1: Classkick Bank Assignment

  • Create one assignment that stores all your manipulatives.

  • Copy and paste the images into other assignments as needed using the keyboard shortcuts (see section 2 above)

Option 2: PDF Manipulative Bank

  • Create a PDF with multiple manipulatives.

  • Upload the PDF and click Add Another to place multiple manipulatives at once.

5) Troubleshooting

If a manipulative is not moving:

  • If uploaded correctly using the Manipulative tool, you’ll see two small squares in the bottom-right corner when you hover over the image or click on it. 

  • If you do not see the two small squares, the image was likely inserted using the Image tool instead of the Manipulative tool. Images added with the Image tool are not draggable by students.

    A selected manipulative image on a slide showing two small squares in the bottom-right corner, indicating it was added using the Manipulative tool.

If a manipulative does not appear on a student's slide:

If one or two students are not seeing the manipulatives on their assignment, you may need to "reset" the manipulative(s). 

1. Click into the assignment.

2. In Edit mode, navigate to the slide(s) with the missing manipulative.

3. Click and slightly move (drag) the manipulative on the canvas, then release it.

This should help sync the manipulatives so that they will then appear on the students' view. 

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