The Exchange Tray

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The Exchange Tray
Math - Introduction to the Decimal System
Exchange Tray 8.JPG
LevelPrimary
Age4 - 5
PrerequisitesAssociation of Beads and Cards
MaterialsGolden Beads:
10 unit beads
9 ten bars
9 hundred squares
tray

This activity teaches the child that 10 units are the same as 1 ten, that 10 tens are the same as 1 hundred, and that 10 hundreds are the same as 1 thousand.

Presentation

  1. Prepare a tray with 10 unit beads, 9 ten bars, and 9 hundred squares.
    Exchange Tray 1.JPG
  2. Lay the beads out on a mat as shown.
    Exchange Tray 2.JPG
  3. Count the unit beads, moving them down as you do (or moving them into a small bowl). "1 unit, 2 units, 3 units..."
    Exchange Tray 3.JPG
  4. "10 units is the same as 1 ten." Have the child go to the bank and exchange the 10 unit beads for 1 ten.
    Exchange Tray 4.JPG
  5. Bring the ten bar to the mat.
    Exchange Tray 5.JPG
  6. Place it with the other ten bars.
    Exchange Tray 6.JPG
  7. Count the ten bars: "1 ten, 2 tens, 3 tens..."
    Exchange Tray 7.JPG
  8. "10 tens is the same as 1 hundred." Have the child go to the bank and exchange the 10 ten bars for 1 hundred square.
    Exchange Tray 8.JPG
  9. Bring the hundred square to the mat. Place it with the other hundred squares.
    Exchange Tray 9.JPG
  10. Count the hundred squares: "1 hundred, 2 hundreds, 3 hundreds..."
    Exchange Tray 10.JPG
  11. "10 hundreds is the same as 1 thousand." Have the child go to the bank and exchange the 10 hundred squares for 1 thousand.
    Exchange Tray 11.JPG
  12. Bring the thousand cube to the mat. "One thousand. Did you know that we had one thousand beads on the tray?"
    Exchange Tray 12.JPG

Points of Interest

Control of Error

Variations and Extensions

Material