Make Your Own Manipulatives

Option 1: Quick & Easy

Edit the terms in the boxes below then click the generate button. You can separate terms with commas or line breaks. Bookmark the resulting page (Ctrl + D) to re-use it.

Terms

Default Background

Title

Generate

Option 2: Google Sheets

Step 1: Modify the Google Spreadsheet Template

  • Make a copy of this template. (You'll need to sign-in with your Google account.)
  • Edit the Terms.
  • Optional: Edit the background colors in the Color column.
    • Default color background color is white.
    • You may use any valid HTML color name or color code.
    • Colors will automatically be lightened so that the black text is still legible.
  • Name your manipulatives by changing the name of the worksheet (at the bottom).
  • Do not edit any cell with a blue background.

Step 2: Publish Your Spreadsheet

  • Go to File, Share, Publish to web, then click Publish.

Step 3: Get Your Flippity.net Link

  • Click on the Get the Link Here tab of the template (at the bottom).
  • Click on the Flippity.net link to view your manipulatives.

Step 4: Bookmark and Share

  • Bookmark the page to find it again quickly.
  • Share the Flippity.net link with anyone you want to see your manipulatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the font?

Can I change the background?

  • Yes, there are 13 stock backgrounds: White Fridge, Two Column, Three Column, Four Column, Two Row, Three Row, Four Grid, Six Grid, Eight Grid, Venn Diagram, Wood Grain, Stainless Steel, and World.
    • Once the Flippity link is loaded, users can change the background by clicking the settings gear in the lower-right and selecting from the dropdown menu.
  • You can customize the list of backgrounds by editing the Backgrounds tab in the spreadsheet.
    • The first background listed (in row 2) will show up by default.
  • You can also use your own custom images as backgrounds.
    • Name your background in the Name column.
    • Provide a link to your online image in the URL column.
    • (For best results, images should be roughly 1400 pixels wide by 900 pixels high.)

Can I use multimedia with my manipulatives?

  • Yes, but you can either use multimedia or text, not both.
  • Images
      Just paste the URL (address) of a picture you find on the web in the appropriate cell.
      • URLs must end in ".gif", ".png", ".jpg", ".jpeg", or ".webp".
      • You cannot use Google Drive to store your images.
      • You can use Google Drawings. Use the "Publish to the web…" link.
      • Images are automatically resized.
      • Smaller images load quicker.
      • (You may use text or an image in a cell, but not both.)
  • YouTube Videos
    • Simply paste the YouTube "Share this video" link in the appropriate cell.
      • The link should look like this: https://youtu.be/GFIvXVMbII0.
  • EquatIO
    • After you insert your equation images into the spreadsheet, you'll need to make a few changes:
      • E.g. change =IMAGE("https://equatio-api.texthelp.com/svg/%5Cfrac%7B3%7D%7Bx-2%7D") to
        https://equatio-api.texthelp.com/svg/%5Cfrac%7B3%7D%7Bx-2%7D
      • Tip: Once you have inserted all your EquatIO equations, use Find/Replace to remove all instances of =IMAGE(" and ")
  • Desmos
    • Just paste the Desmos share link in the appropriate cell.
      • The link should look like this: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/sycumu9ek9.
      • (Desmos graphs may take a few moments to load.)
  • Vocaroo
    • Record or upload your audio and click "Save."
    • Copy the link you see under "Sharing options" and paste it in the appropriate cell.
      • (The link should look like this: https://voca.ro/s0hjIx1Etnc9.)
    • (Vocaroo recordings expire after a few months.)

Is there a way I can display some instructions first?

  • Yes, anywhere in your list of terms type [[Instructions: followed by your instructions, then type ]].
    • E.g. [[Instructions: Move each label to the correct continent]]