Montessori Maths Activity: Numbers & Counters

AGE: From 4 years old (after The Spindle Box has been introduced)

OBJECTIVE(S):

1. To reinforce the knowledge that each number is made up of separate quantities.

2. To reinforce the sequence 1 – 10 and how many separate units go to form each number.

3. To introduce the concept of odd and even numbers.

4. To provide indirect preparation for divisibility of numbers.

MATERIALS:

1. 10 numeral cards (1 – 10)

2. 55 counters of the same color.

3. A straight edge.

PRESENTATION:

Day 1: Cards

1. Name the Numbers and Counters and show where they are kept.

2. Ask the child to lay out a floor mat.

3. Lay out the number cards randomly on the mat and have the child say the numbers out loud.

4. Arrange the number cards in numerical order by saying: “Give me Card 1” and have the child put the Card 1 down. Repeat for the other cards until all the cards are laid out in numerical order.

5. Point to Card 1 and ask: “How many counters should you place under this card?”

6. The child should answer 1 and give you a counter.

7. Put the counter below Card 1 and ask the child to count the counter. Ask: “What comes next?”

8. Repeat for the other numbers placing even numbers in pairs and placing the odd numbers with the last counter under and to the middle of the pair until the child understands. (See diagram above)

9. Explain the concept of odd and even numbers: even numbers are those you can find a friend for each of them two-by-two; odd numbers are those with one left alone and has no friend :-(

Day 2: Odd and Even

1. The child constructs the Numbers and Counters from Day 1’s presentation.

2. Run the tip of your index finger down the middle of each column of pairs; for each row in which your finger strikes an unpaired counter at the end of the column, move the card a little above where it was.

3. Tell the child that the numbers which does not have a friend (i.e. an unpaired counter) are “odd” numbers, because you cannot divide it when you draw your finger down (你不能分割ge3), by saying: “This one does not have a friend, so it is an odd number.”

 

1. Repeat for counters 2 and after you have run your finger through the two counters, tell the child that the numbers with a friend standing two-by-two (i.e. pairs of counters) are “even” numbers, because you can divide it by saying: “This one has a friend, so it is an even number.”

2. Have the child repeat for the remaining counters.

3. Do a Three Period Lesson for odd and even.

4. Once the child is finished, look at all of the cards that are slightly higher than the others (cards 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and tell the child that these are odd numbers (Stage 1)

5. Point to the other cards (cards 2, 4, 6, 8) and tell the child that these are even numbers (Period 1)

6. Repeatedly ask your child to find one that is odd or even or ask your child whether a particular number is odd or even (Period 2).

7. Point to a number and ask: “What is this?” (Period 3).

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TA5xdgzRUc

CONTROL OF ERROR:

1. The correct number of counters and numerals are provided.

2. The visual image of the pattern of the counters.

NOTE:

1. Introduce this activity in parallel with the spindle box.

2. On day 1, you put out the pattern until the child get it, and you may stay longer to see if the child need help.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

C tried this again on 1 May 2020 (3Y11M15D). She was able to place the glass stones until 5, however, not exactly in the formation of even and odd numbers. J (3Y7M10D) tried this on 15.10.2012 and 17.10.2012.

REFERENCES:

http://www.infomontessori.com/mathematics/numbers-through-ten-cards-and-counters.htm

http://faculty.fullerton.edu/syen/mts/math/_link.htm

http://www.moteaco.com/albums/casa/casamath.html

 1 May 2020 (3Y11M15D)

Montessori Activity: Homemade Fabric Box

Age: From 2 years old

Objective(s): To refine the child's sense of touch through matching fabrics according to the texture by feeling with the child's fingers.

Materials:

1. The Fabric Box contains different pairs of fabric such as:

• Cotton
• Wool
• Jute
• Silk
• Linen
• Velvet
• Satin
• Leather
• Rayon
• Demin

2. 1 blindfold (optional)
3. 1 mat

Presentation:

1. Mix the pile of fabric randomly.
2. Take the 1st piece of fabric from the top of the pile.
3. Feel it with your hands.
4. Take the next piece of fabric from the pile and compare if they are the same through touch.
5. If they are not the same, i.e. they don't match, put the 2nd fabric aside to the right of the pile.
6. Continue to compare one fabric at a time until a match is found.
7. Place the matched pair on the top left corner of the mat.
8. Continue matching in the same manner until all pairs are found.
9. After your child has gained sufficient experience, use the 3-Period Lesson to teach the name of each fabric.
10. To increase the challenge, use a blindfold for your child to rely solely on his touch to match the pair, instead of sight (optional)

Video Demonstration:


Here is a video demonstrating the above presentation:

https://youtu.be/Uk8np8g7w4g

This video shows another way for the child to work with this material:

https://youtu.be/bx653dnQjeo

Additional Information:

I did not introduce this to J, when he was a toddler. It was too much work, and I am not good at making things. But I would like to do this activity with Baby.

I am currently on maternity leave, waiting for the baby to arrive. As such, I have attempted to make my own Fabric Box. I cut out the pieces from unwanted clothes, scarves, towel, etc. I re-used a wooden box, which came with chocolate, to store the fabric.

It has taken me the whole night yesterday to make this. I am glad I have completed it.

References:

http://www.infomontessori.com/sensorial/tactile-sense-fabrics.htm
http://www.montessorialbum.com/montessori/index.php?title=Fabrics
http://teachingfromatacklebox.blogspot.dk/2013/08/montessori-fabric-matching-part-1.html

Pictorial Demonstration:

Mix the pile of fabric randomly.

Take the first piece of fabric from the top of the pile. Feel it with your hands.

Take the next piece of fabric from the pile.

Touch and

compare if they are the same through touch.

If they are not the same, i.e. they don't match, set the second fabric aside to the right of the pile.

Take the 3rd piece of fabric from the top of the pile.

Feel it with your hands.

Compare if they are the same through touch.

If they are not the same, i.e. they don't match, put the end piece of fabric aside to the right of the pile.

Take the 4th piece of fabric from the top of the pile.

Feel it with your hands.

compare if they are the same through touch.

If they are the same, place the matched pair on the top left corner of the mat.

Continue matching in the same manner until all pairs are found.

Return the fabric back to its box after use.

After your child has gained sufficient experience, use the 3-Period Lesson to teach the name of each fabric.

You can also make this activity more challenging by using a blindfold for your child to rely solely on his touch to match the pair.

How to Make This Materials:

Our Montessori Fabric Box is homemade:

They are made from the materials from old clothes, scarves, cloth bags and towels.

I use the Montessori metal inset as a template for the size. 

Each fabric piece is 10 x 10 cm. 

I use an old chocolate wooden box to store the fabric.

Place the fabric box in a tray, ready for the child to bring to the table or mat:-)

This is how it looks like inside :-)

Our fabrics consist of:

1st column: Spandex, towel, net and felt (focus on providing a clear difference in texture)

2nd column: Satin, cotton, polyester, linen (focus on providing the increasing degree of coarseness)

3rd column: Silk, Thai silk, another kind of silk & bath cloth

Last column: Demin

I did not have velvet at home, thus velvet hasn't been included.

Montessori Activity: Homemade Imbucare Box with Marble Ball

Age: From 6 months

Objective: Object permanence

Materials:
1. 1 Ikea wooden magazine holder
2. 1 marble ball
3. 1 tray

Presentation:
1. You post the ball into the hole in the magazine holder.
2. Ask baby, "Where has the ball gone?"
3. Turn the magazine holder around, and say, "There is the ball."

Additional Information:

Here is another homemade version of Montessori Imbucare Box with Marble Ball for Infant. Note: This is not a toy, but a developmental aid, and thus supervision is necessary.

The real Imbucare box is available from Amazon:

Montessori Activity: Homemade Imbucare Box with Knitted Ball

Age: From 6 months old

Objective: Object permanence

Additional Information:

I like this idea. I am still contemplating if I should buy it or if I should make it myself for our new baby.

Updates 20 April 2016:

I have made my own using a large match box. The match box can be bought from IRMA supermarket for 14.50 DKK per box:

Wrap the match box up with a neutral paper, cut a circle in the middle and viola, here is our homemade Imbucare Box with Marble Ball :-) I have just saved 15 USD after deducting the cost of the match box :-)

I attached a string as drawer opener (optional): 

Also available from Amazon:

Montessori Activity: Subtraction Board (减法[jiǎn fǎ])

 

AGE: From 4.5 years old

OBJECTIVE(S):

To teach counting and subtraction of the unit place value in a concrete manner seeing the minuend and then taking away the subtrahend:

- Minuend (被减数 [bèi jiǎn shù]): the first number in a subtraction (a quantity or number from which another is to be subtracted).
- Subtrahend (减数 [jiǎn shù]): the second number in a subtraction (the number to be subtracted)
- Difference (剩[Shèng])

MATERIALS:

1. Homemade Addition Board using drawing block and green ribbon, green being the Montessori color for subtraction and making sure that your child associates the color of green with subtraction
2. 1 cup with glass pebbles
3. 1 set of number cards or number tiles (optional)
4. 1 set of equation cards (optional, you can also write the equation on a piece of paper)
5. 1 subtraction worksheet/paper, 1 pencil and eraser
6. 1 mat

PRESENTATION:

1. Lay out the materials on the table.

2. Explain that addition means putting things together and subtraction means taking them apart.

3. Read the problem to your child, e.g. 7-5=?

4. Have your child place 7 pebbles onto the minuend section on the subtraction board counting them as you go along. Then point to the number 7 in the problem and say, "You have 7 pebbles." Place the number tile 7 below the pebbles.

6. Transfer 5 pebbles from the minuend to the subtrahend section counting them as you go along, point to the number 5 in the problem and say, "You took away 5 of them. Place the number tile 5 below the pebbles.

8. Ask, "How many pebbles do you have left?"

9. Transfer the 2 pebbles from the minuend to the difference section, counting them as you go along and say, "You have 2 pebbles left. We say 7 take away 5 equal 2." Place number tile 2 below the pebbles.

10. Ask your child to repeat the problem and answer, saying "7-5=2" and write the answer on the worksheet.

11. Repeat this process with other subtraction problems.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrg8tC9A_Ho

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

J tried this on 17 May 2014 (5y2m12d) for the first time. He was able to do them. We continued with this activity every day. However, J prefers the Singapore Maths Assessment book though to this Montessori subtraction board... children can be very different. It doesn't matter which method as long as they are learning. J had fun coloring the answer from the Singapore Maths Assessment book (so black and white pages can be a blessing after all.)

REFERENCES:

18 May 2014 (5y2m12d)

 

19 May 2014 (5y2m14d)