A number path is a tool that young children (up to 2nd grade) can use to model addition, subtraction and comparison problems. You can find an explanation of a number path and a template you can print at this site
http://www.mathematicallyminded.com/downloads/1-20%20Number%20Path.pdf
This model provides a bridge between concrete manipulatives and abstract numeric symbols. If you laminated the number paths, the students could mark out problems on their number path and then erase it. For comparison problems it may be useful to have two number paths so students can easily see how the two quantities compare. Use this model to lay the foundation for the use of the bar model and the number line to solve problems with a larger range of numbers in the later grades.
The link above takes you directly to the information on number paths, but the Mathematically Minded website has a number of printable resources that are worth checking out. http://www.mathematicallyminded.com/book1.html
http://www.mathematicallyminded.com/downloads/1-20%20Number%20Path.pdf
This model provides a bridge between concrete manipulatives and abstract numeric symbols. If you laminated the number paths, the students could mark out problems on their number path and then erase it. For comparison problems it may be useful to have two number paths so students can easily see how the two quantities compare. Use this model to lay the foundation for the use of the bar model and the number line to solve problems with a larger range of numbers in the later grades.
The link above takes you directly to the information on number paths, but the Mathematically Minded website has a number of printable resources that are worth checking out. http://www.mathematicallyminded.com/book1.html