Association of Beads and Cards

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Association of Beads and Cards
Math - Introduction to the Decimal System
Beads and cards 20.JPG
LevelPrimary
Age4 - 5
PrerequisitesBead Layout
Card Layout
Materialslarge number cards
set of golden beads
tray
2 small bowls for unit beads

This activity teaches the child the association of the numerals and the quantities.

Presentations

Presentation 1

  1. Lay out the material as shown.
    The teacher should sit where she can reach the number cards and the small tray with the mat. (The mat with the beads can be placed farther away if there is sufficient room.)
    Beads and cards 1.JPG
  2. The teacher picks on card (20 in this case) and places it on the child's tray.
    Beads and cards 2.JPG
  3. The child takes the tray to the mat with the beads and retrieves the quantity.
    Beads and cards 3.JPG
  4. The child should then return the tray to the mat. Place the number card at the top of the mat.
    Beads and cards 4.JPG
  5. Count out the ten bars as you place them on the mat. "One ten, two tens." Be sure to place the ten bars under the tens place of the card. Point to the number card, "This says two tens." Point to the ten bars, "This is two tens."
    Beads and cards 5.JPG
  6. Return the card and the beads to their places in the layouts.
  7. Repeat this process with a quantity of units:
    Beads and cards 6.JPG Beads and cards 7.JPG Beads and cards 8.JPG Beads and cards 9.JPG
  8. or hundreds:
    Beads and cards 10.JPG Beads and cards 11.JPG Beads and cards 12.JPG Beads and cards 13.JPG
  9. or thousands. Continue as long as the child shows interest.
    Beads and cards 14.JPG Beads and cards 15.JPG Beads and cards 16.JPG Beads and cards 17.JPG

Presentation 2

  1. Give the child cards for two adjacent place values (tens and units, hundreds and tens, or thousands and hundreds).
    Have the child retrieve the quantity of beads.
    Have the child bring the quantity to the teacher's mat. Count out the beads and place as shown.
    Beads and cards 18.JPG Beads and cards 19.JPG Beads and cards 20.JPG
  2. Show the child how to combine the number cards by stacking them and sliding them so they meet on the right edges.
    Beads and cards 21.JPG Beads and cards 22.JPG
  3. Give the child cards for two non-adjacent place values (hundreds and units, thousands and tens, or thousands and units).
    Have the child retrieve the quantity of beads.
    Have the child bring the quantity to the teacher's mat. Count out the beads and place as shown.
    Beads and cards 23.JPG Beads and cards 24.JPG Beads and cards 25.JPG
  4. Stack and slide the cards to reveal the combined number.
    Beads and cards 26.JPG Beads and cards 27.JPG
  5. Point to the zeros: "See, there are no hundreds or units."
    Beads and cards 28.JPG

Points of Interest

Control of Error

Variations and Extensions

  • place value worksheets with base ten blocks at Math-Aids.com
  • Get a quantity of beads and ask the child to find the number card that says how much you have.
  • Have the child fetch quantities with three, then four place value cards.

Material

Make Your Own

Printable Large Number Cards

Where to Buy

see Golden Beads
and Number Cards

Further Reading