Montessori Number Rods Variation With Bead Sticks

This page with the Montessori Number Rods Variation will show you a few other ways to expand the basic concept of introducing numbers with linear measurement to the young child. Here again we will use the Red and Blue Bead Sticks like we did in the Number Rods with Bead Sticks page.

Add interesting beads to count with the sticks. This will give the child more experience in counting with one to one correspondence. More eye-hand coordination and concentration skill will be used. Here I have provided mother of pearl heart beads. This may open up conversation regarding the bead which enhances language development and interest. (So you may need to be prepared) You may change the beads from time to time – yellow-ochre, orange, amber colored beads in autumn, or, red, gold, silver during the winter festivity time to keep the work fresh and interesting.

Addition:

Add the numbers. Example- We have "three" here. We have "two" here. What happens if we add them or join?

The child can literally see that it equals to the bead stick "five" in length.

Subtraction:

Similarly we can provide concrete hands on experiences with the of the concept of subtraction problems incorporating the bead sticks.

The control of error is built in the material and the project of this Montessori Number Rods Variation.

Multiplication:

How many times "one"goes in "five"? Or "two"goes in "ten"? The child can find that out with concrete hands on experience.

Strong>Concept of Odd and Even: Introduce the concept of odd and even numbers.Now thehe child may find it out himself that all the odd ones start with the red stick and also end with the red stick . Introduce him the concept but leave some things for him to discover.

Add dice:

Add a couple of dice and open it for two children to play, or play with your child. Take turns to roll. Decide if you are going to add the numbers or subtract before the game. You may incorporate the bead sticks and/or the counters. What happens if you have two numbers that are same? Can you use the bead sticks then? or what if there are one "five" and another "six" or more? Can you add them with the bead sticks? These will open problem solving skills.

Make a Maze:

Make a maze with the bead sticks following the pattern.See the illustration.

Show them how to trace using the forefinger following the gap between the sticks. Provide some corn meal in the tray where the maze could be made. Now tracing within the gap will be more fun. If the tray is made of iron, like the cookie tray, then tracing with a magnet will add more drama to it.

All these exercises in the Montessori Number Rods Variation are fun and they will encourage the child to find out more about mathematical problems.

This second book was there twenty years ago and I have used it very much. The projects are easy and budget wise and are very suited to be implemented in a home setting.

This book was very beneficial to me when I had a home school with my children.

After Montessori Number Rods Variation

you may want to visit the mathematical mind page

or the Montessori Math page

or for more option go to the Home Page