Snake Game (Addition)

The Snake Game provides extended addition practice in a concrete, engaging format that builds toward mental math fluency.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Mathematics
• Learning area: Memory Work
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Practice addition through bead manipulation
• Build mental addition skills
• Develop fluency with number combinations

Materials

• Colored bead bars (short bead stair)
• Golden ten-bars
• Black-and-white verification bars
• Work mat

Instructions

1. Lay colored bead bars in a 'snake' line. 2. Starting from left, count beads. 3. At 10, exchange counted beads for 1 golden ten-bar. 4. Continue counting from remaining beads. 5. Replace each 10 counted with a ten-bar. 6. Verify: count all golden bars and remaining beads. 7. Check with black-and-white bars.

Educator tip

The snake transforms from colorful to golden as children work—a satisfying visual of the exchanging process.

Assessment

Child performs Snake Game addition accurately with self-verification.

More from Mathematics

• Snake Game (Subtraction)
• Fraction Circles: Introduction
• Fraction Equivalence
• Adding Fractions with Like Denominators
• Fractions of a Set
• Greater Than, Less Than
• Ordering Numbers to 100
• Number Bonds to 10