Most kids love counting numbers. They count from 123... up to ten very efficiently, though often, they just rattle them without much understanding.. Montessori has an ideal and effective way of teaching children math through a manipulative called the “Number Rod”. This math lesson plans provides concrete visual aid and introduces logic as a child experiences interactive learning. A teacher or parent may use this method to help kids count with understanding as part of preschool activities or even before entering preschool.
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DESCRIPTION OF MATERIALS:
1 piece of floor mat (1 metre by ½ metre)
10 wooden rods varying in length by 1 decimetre. The first rod is 1 decimetre long and the 10th rod is 10 decimeters (1 metre). The rods are coloured alternately red and blue in bands (or strips) of 1 decimetre. The first rod is red, the second rod is re-lue, the third rod is red-blue-red, etc.
1 set of numeral cards (1 to 10)
OBJECTIVES
To introduce the child to count 123 up to 10 using whole quantities, eg 3, as a whole.
To make the child aware of the quantitative relationship eg 2 is more than 1 and 3 is more than 2, etc
To make the child aware of the sequence 1 to 10 (if the stair is correctly built, the numbers will automatically be in the correct order)
To make the child aware of the concept as an aggregate of 1’s (eg. The child can check this by counting the rods)
To associate the correct numeral and match them with each Rod
CONTROL OF ERROR
If the stair is correctly built the child will be able to name the rods from 1 to 10.
LANGUAGE / VOCABULARY
123……. to Ten, Number rods, numeral cards, quantity, count
APPROXIMATE AGE
4 – 4 ½ yrs onwards
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
This may be a group or individual activity.
Exercise One
Lay a floor mat
Carry the rods vertically with both hands – to the work place (mat)
Place the rods randomly on the mat
With the rod, build up a stair starting with the longest rod at the top
Repeat the process till kids can build the stair adequately
Exercise Two
Lay the Rods randomly on the work mat (towards the left side)
Lay out the Cards at random towards the right side
Ask the child to look for a Rod eg. “The Quantity Five” rod
Count the sections on the rod to ensure it is the correct rod
Place the card “5” at the right end of the rod
Proceed to another rod and match randomly
Variations:
Begin with the Rod
Begin with the Cards
Begin by calling out a number (from abstract to concrete)
Built the Number Rods in sequence and match the Numeral Cards
Other Creative Counting Ideas
Use a dice and numeral cards (1 – 6)
Use counters (bottle caps, candies, lego blocks…etc) and numeral cards
