Montessori Activity: The 9 Layout – Beads & Large Numbers (Decimal System)

 

AGE: 4 - 4.5 years old

OBJECTIVE(S)

1.     To give an overall view of the decimal system and the fact that in base then there may be no more than nine in any one category, for both beads and cards.

2.     To make evident the parallel hierarchy of the quantities and their symbols.

3.     To combine the quantities and symbols in practice and to become familiar with their correspondence.

MATERIALS:

1.     9 of each type of golden beads: ones, tens, hundreds and thousands (demonstration tray materials).

2.     1 set of Large Number Cards: 1 – 9, 10 – 90, 100 – 900 and 1000 - 9000.

3.     2 mats

4.     1 tray

PRESENTATION:

1.     Set up the entire layout and count through from one unit to nine units, one ten to nine tens, one hundred to nine hundreds and one thousand.

2.     Lay out on a second mat the Number Cards following columns from right to left for units to thousands respectively, showing that after nine of any category one must go to the next higher category, and counting through the entire layout when you are done.

3.     Invite the child visually to compare the arrangements on the two mats and discover their parallel hierarchies.

4.     Show the child how to follow the same hierarchical order in putting the materials back to their containers.

5.     Invite the child to construct the layouts independently.

6.     Repeat as many times as needed.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgAOIgJs_hs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciOvGNqZLLI

TIPS:

1.     With the two mats spread out, place a certain number beads of a category on a tray and ask the child to find the corresponding card for this amount of beads. Count the beads with the child: “one ten, two tens, three tens…” placing them as they are counted in a neat column in front of the card.

2.     Situate yourself on the mat with the Number Cards. Give each child a tray and a number card. Ask the child to bring back the amount of beads from the bead mat stated on the number card in the tray. When the beads are brought back, count them aloud. Thank the child and request that the cards and beads be put back into their respective arrangements.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

Proper amount of material provided.

NOTE:

May do Three Period Lessons any time.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

J (3Y9M9D) tried this today. He wasn't that interested. In the past, I would be rather discouraged, but recently I have noticed that he had learned all the things touched on in those activities, although he had not shown so much visual eagerness with it. It could be that he is just "acting" cool. Thus, I am better at taking it in my stride now. Another example is sometimes J doesn't seem to be looking at what I am reading, but a few days later, I noticed that he actually had learned the words.

So what I have learned from my experience with J is that we are sowing seeds. We may not see immediate results or enthusiasm, but it will come, if we don't give up. So today, I am sowing seeds.

Oh, by the way, this is the same attitude I take with piano practice as well. We haven't started that yet, but piano lessons will begin in the new year :-)

REFERENCES:

Shu-Chen Jenny Yen’s On-line Montessori Albums

Brilliant Minds Montessori