Stamp Game

The Stamp Game represents the same quantities as Golden Beads but more abstractly—tiles are marked with numerals rather than showing countable units. This bridges to written computation.

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

Objectives

• Perform operations more abstractly
• Build toward paper algorithms
• Develop operation fluency
• Connect concrete to abstract

Materials

• Stamp Game: wooden tiles marked with numerals
• Green unit tiles, blue ten tiles, red hundred tiles, green thousand tiles
• Skittles for symbols

Instructions

1. Build number with stamps. 'I need 2,365.' 2. Select stamps: 2 thousands, 3 hundreds, 6 tens, 5 units. 3. For addition, combine stamps and exchange. 4. For subtraction, take away stamps. 5. Record work with pencil and paper.

Educator tip

The Stamp Game is more abstract because you can't count individual units on each stamp—you must trust the numeral.

Assessment

Child performs all four operations with Stamp Game and records written equations.

More from Mathematics

• Multiplication: Bead Bars
• Introduction to Division
• Addition Strip Board
• Multiplication Board
• Fraction Circles: Introduction
• Fraction Equivalence
• Telling Time: The Clock
• Money: Coin Recognition and Value