What are "manipulatives" and how do they apply to your curriculum? I think of manipulatives as physical tools or virtual games that allow students to stage or maneuver objects so that they can explore their world from a spatial perspective. This section has been categorized into concrete and virtual manipulatives, with a miscellaneous category for those that fall between the two. Keep in mind that many of the virtual manipulatives could easily be replicated in a concrete medium using basic supplies such as straws, pipecleaners, paper, and most importantly imagination.