Golden Beads: Introduction

The Golden Beads provide concrete, manipulable representation of our decimal system. Children can literally hold a 'thousand' and feel its relationship to 'one.'

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Mathematics
• Learning area: Decimal System
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Understand units, tens, hundreds, thousands
• Experience decimal hierarchy concretely
• Build foundation for operations
• Develop place value understanding

Materials

• Golden Beads: unit beads, ten-bars, hundred-squares, thousand-cubes
• Large tray for presentation

Instructions

1. Present single bead. 'This is one unit.' 2. Present ten-bar. 'This is one ten.' Count to verify. 3. Present hundred-square. 'This is one hundred.' 4. Present thousand-cube. 'This is one thousand.' 5. Explore relationships: 10 units = 1 ten, etc. 6. Three-period lesson for names.

Educator tip

Let children feel the weight difference. The concrete experience of 'heavier means more' is powerful.

Assessment

Child names bead categories and understands decimal relationships.

More from Mathematics

• Golden Beads: Building Large Numbers
• Addition with Golden Beads
• Subtraction with Golden Beads
• Stamp Game
• Multiplication: Bead Bars
• Introduction to Division
• Addition Strip Board
• Multiplication Board