---
title: "Hands-On Problem Solving"
description: "Select and use familiar tools (concrete objects, fingers, ten frames) to help solve a mathematical problem"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/hands-on-problem-solving-mt_20WfHhnL39
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/hands-on-problem-solving-mt_20WfHhnL39.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

> **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants.
> When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md
> API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md
> Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt
> Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json
> Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`.

# Hands-On Problem Solving

Select and use familiar tools (concrete objects, fingers, ten frames) to help solve a mathematical problem

Subject: Mathematics · Area: Mathematical Thinking · Ages 5 to 6
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/hands-on-problem-solving-mt_20WfHhnL39

## Ready when they can

- Choose cubes, counters, or fingers to help solve an addition or subtraction problem
- Use a ten frame to organise objects for counting or comparing
- Explain why a particular tool (e.g. cubes rather than fingers) was chosen for a given problem

## Lesson: Tools that help you solve problems

Sometimes a math problem is tricky. You can use a tool to help. Cubes, counters, fingers, and ten frames can help you think.

*(drawing: Cubes help you add. Here are 3 cubes and 2 more cubes.)*

**Example.** Mia has 4 stickers and gets 3 more. She lines up counters for each sticker. She counts them all: 7 stickers.

*(drawing: A ten frame has two rows of five spots. It helps you count fast.)*

**Tip.** Pick the tool that fits your problem. Cubes are good for moving parts around. A ten frame helps you see groups of ten.

**Recap.** Tools like cubes, fingers, and ten frames help you solve math problems.

## Practice

18 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Counting objects to 20](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/counting-objects-to-20-mt_yqAL6O5i_v)

## Opens up

- [Choosing a tool or representation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/choosing-a-tool-or-representation-mt_zMEvtigoM3)