Long Chains

Long Chains
Math - Linear Counting
Level	Primary
Age	5+
Prerequisites	Short Chains

Also called the Cubic Chains.
This activity teaches the child skip counting which is preparation for multiplication. It also indirectly prepares the child to understand cubing numbers.

Presentation

1. Carry the long chains in the same way as the thousand chain.

   

2. Lay the chain out on a long mat as shown.

   

3. Gently pull one end of the chain until it is stretched out to its full length down the mat.

   

4. Bring the squares, cube, and labels to the mat.

   

5. Fold the chain into squares as shown.

   

6. Set the squares from the tray on top to show that they are the same.

   

7. Stack the squares and compare to the cube to show that they are the same.

   

8. Stretch the chain back out.

   

9. Sort the labels into columns on the tray.

   

10. Count the beads and lay out labels as you go. Only the first segment in the chain has a label for each bead, the rest only have a label for the last bead in each segment.

    

11. Walk along the length of the chain from the beginning and read the labels.