Stamp Game: Addition with Exchanging

The stamp game bridges golden beads and abstract computation. The smaller tiles move children toward symbolic thinking while maintaining concreteness.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Mathematics
• Learning area: Operations
• Level: Ages 5-6

Objectives

• Perform addition with exchanging (carrying)
• Transition from concrete to symbolic
• Record multi-digit addition
• Understand place value in operations

Materials

• Stamp game (small tiles: green units, blue tens, red hundreds, green thousands)
• Problem cards
• Pencil and paper
• Work mat

Instructions

1. Build first addend with stamps. 2. Build second addend below. 3. Combine all stamps. 4. Count units: if 10+, exchange 10 unit stamps for 1 ten stamp. 5. Count tens: exchange if needed. 6. Count hundreds: exchange if needed. 7. Read answer. 8. Record equation on paper.

Educator tip

The stamp game follows golden bead work. Children should be comfortable with static addition before attempting exchanging.

Assessment

Child performs addition with exchanging using stamp game and records equations.

More from Mathematics

• Clock: Telling Time to the Hour and Half Hour
• Subtraction Strip Board
• Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To
• Division with Golden Beads: Sharing Equally
• Measurement: Non-Standard Units
• Even and Odd Numbers
• Money: Coin Recognition and Value
• Pattern Block Designs and Symmetry