Shu-Chen Yen's On-Line Montessori Albums

MATH DEVELOPMENT ALBUM

8.3 MULTIPLICATION WITH BEAD BARS


MATERIALS:

1. A partitioned box with ten compartments. Each compartment contains bead bars from 1 to 9. Fifty-five bars of each category are needed to lay out the quantities from 1 times the number to 10 times the number.

2. Golden bead bars.

3. A mat on which to place the bead bars.

PREPARATION:

Invite the child who has worked with the Positive Snake Game, Linear and Skip Counting * to do this exercise. This exercise is the second verification of the above.

(* Chains introduce child to concept of 3 sets of 3, etc.)

PRESENTATION I:

1. The first exercise is sensorial. Lay out the bead bars from 1 times the number to ten times the number but do not use answers. Thus begin with the two's.

2. As bead bars are placed it can be stated: "One set of two." Then, "Two sets of two", then "Three sets of two." (Lay out as illustrated in first illustration.)

3. Quantities over ten use golden bead bars and colored bead bars.

4. When this has been completed return to the first set of two's and ask the child, "How many sets of two?" The answer will be "one", and continue to 10.

5. State, "Three sets of two equal six." Continue through other sets of bead bars. Record if child wishes.

PRESENTATION II: COMMUTATIVE LAW

1. Lay out a golden ten bar, add a two bar, thus making 12. Ask the child to make as many combinations as possible which will total 12.

2. Show the child that 6 x 2 is the same as 2 x 6 etc.

3. State: "Six sets of two equal twelve", and "Two sets of six equal twelve."

4. Possible combinations are, 6 sets of 2, 4 sets of 3, 3 sets of 4, 2 sets of 6 and 12 sets of 1.

PRESENTATION III: TABLES

1. A quantity of short bead stairs, at least 55 in each category.

2. A box of golden bead bars, and a box of golden units.

3. A mat on which to work.

4. Select a category with which to work, such as 4. Place a 4 bar horizontally on the mat, state: "One set of four equals four."

5. Count four golden units and place them vertically under the four bar.

6. Take two bars of 4 and place them horizontally and state: "Two sets of four are eight."

7. Place eight unit beads vertically.

8. Continue until the golden units are ten or over, then replace with a 10 bar.

9. Continue through all the tables.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

1. Counting the quantities.

2. Comparing the quantities of bead bars.

3. The number of bead bars in the boxes.

4. Multiplication chart.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. Counting out the bead bars.

2. Laying out the pattern of the multiples.

3. Noting the colored bead bars in the pattern.

4. The increasing size of each pattern.

PURPOSE OF THE MATERIAL:

1. Practice in multiplication.

2. Visual presentation of multiplication tables.

3. Preparation for geometry and algebra.

AGE:

5 to 6 years


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