K-4 Mathematics Resources for Parents/Guardians

Brainingcamp is an online tool that helps students learn math by using virtual manipulatives—interactive objects like blocks, number lines, and fraction tiles that make math concepts easier to see and understand. To help students and families get the most out of these tools, we created short, easy-to-follow videos that show how to use them step by step. These videos are designed to be clear and helpful, even if you don’t have a background in teaching or math. They give a simple introduction to each manipulative and show how students can use them to solve problems and build confidence in math.

In this video, we demonstrate how to use tools like linking cubes, two-color counters (with color-changing options), the 10-frame, rekenrek, and the number line—including how to draw with the pen or marker tools and access features using the tools icon. All activities and manipulatives on Braining Camp are free to use with the provided username and password “parents.” We hope you enjoy exploring this fun and interactive math tool together!

Now that you and your child are comfortable exploring virtual manipulatives on Braining Camp, we’ll show how to use them to model addition problems 3 + 4. We demonstrate how to model the problem with linking cubes, two-color counters on a 10-frame, a rekenrek, and a number line, highlighting how different colors and movements help children understand the concept of combining numbers. Each tool allows your child to visually represent and solve 3 + 4 differently, making math more hands-on and easier to understand. As your child practices, they’ll begin to recognize number patterns and relationships without always needing to count one by one.

Before using tools to solve subtraction problems on Braining Camp, it’s helpful to know that subtraction can be thought of in two ways: taking away or finding the difference between two numbers. In this video, we model both strategies using virtual manipulatives like linking cubes, two-color counters with a 10-frame, the rekenrek, and the number line to solve 7 - 4. These tools help your child visually understand what subtraction means, whether they’re removing four from seven or comparing two amounts to see how far apart they are. As your child explores each tool, they’ll build a stronger understanding of subtraction through hands-on and engaging practice.