Number Rods

Number Rods
Math - Numbers 0-10
Level	Primary
Age	3 - 4
Prerequisites	Long Rods
Materials	set of Number Rods

Also called the Red and Blue Rods.
This activity teaches the child the concept of quantities 1 - 10 and their names.

Presentations

First Presentation

1. Starting with the shortest rod, carry the rods one at a time to a mat. Lay them all out parallel to each other but in random order as shown.

   

2. Put them in order the same way as was done with the Long Rods.

   

3. Isolate the 1 rod and place a hand on it saying: "One."

   

4. Isolate the 2 rod and count each section: "One, two." Then name the rod: "Two."

   

5. Do the same with the 3 rod. Then do a three period lesson with the first three rods.

Subsequent Presentations

1. In later lessons, introduce the other rods in the same way.

Points of Interest

Instruct the child to build the stair (as they did with the red rods), keeping the red end of each rod to the left side of the mat (POI).

Control of Error

• visual - pattern of colored sections
• internal – sense of length acquired through work with red rods
• internal – sense of sequence of numbers acquired through auditory memory.

Variations and Extensions

• Once all are lined up onto rug, slide smallest rod up ‘stair’, demonstrating its size is equal to the difference between each rod next to the other.

Material

This material consists of ten wooden rods, painted alternating red and blue. The shortest rod is 10cm in length, they each increase in length by 10cm up to the longest which is 100cm long. The ends of the rods are 2.5cm square.

Make Your Own

The Number Rods can be made by cutting 1" x 1" boards to the correct length, taping them off, and then painting them.

(A more detailed description of how this was done can be found at A Handmade Childhood.)

Where to Buy

Prices and links last checked: 1 July 2020

Number Rods
Absorbent Montessori $55.00
Adena $57.93
Affordable Montessori $65.00
Alison's $47.25 (with number cards)
Bruins $140.00
E & O $99.00
Hello Wood $205.00 (red and blue)
Hello Wood $189.00 (red and unpainted wood)
IFIT $75.00
Kid Advance $59.99
Leader Joy $77.95
Materials Co. of Boston $125.00
Montessori Concepts $78.00
Montessori Outlet $63.95
Nienhuis $188.80
Thinkamajigs $55.21

Stand
Absorbent Montessori $32.00
Adena $28.93
Affordable Montessori $39.00
Alison's $30.87
Alison's $47.50
Best Montessori Toys $57.04
Bruins $55.00
Hello Wood $55.00
IFIT $30.00
Kid Advance $28.99
Leader Joy $33.95
Material Co. of Boston $49.00
Montessori Concepts $34.00
Montessori Outlet $35.95
Pink Montessori $26.90
Thinkamajigs $32.26

Number Cards
Absorbent Montessori $9.00
Adena $11.94
Affordable Montessori $12.00
Alison's $10.00
Alison's $14.25
Alison's $12.75
Best Montessori Toys $33.50
Bruins $20.00
E & O $22.00
Hello Wood $33.00
IFIT $11.00
Kid Advance $12.99
Leader Joy $18.95
Materials Co. of Boston $10.00
Montessori Concepts $16.00
Montessori Outlet $5.95 (box extra $5.95)
Montessori Outlet $5.95 (box extra $5.95)
Nienhuis $12.20 (box extra $16.80
Pink Montessori $12.50
Thinkamajigs $10.16

Table-top Number Rods (2 sets of little rods)
Absorbent Montessori $22.00
Adena $30.93
Affordable Montessori $27.00
Alison's $71.25
Alison's $29.40
Best Montessori Toys $39.00
Bruins $100.00
E & O $49.00
IFIT $28.00
Kid Advance $31.99
Leader Joy $34.95
Materials Co. of Boston $85.00
Montessori Concepts $34.00
Montessori Outlet $36.95
Nienhuis $121.20
Pink Montessori $24.90
Thinkamajigs $22.91

Half-size Number Rods (5cm-50cm)
Affordable Montessori $34.00
IFIT $30.00
Pink Montessori $19.50

Further Reading

• Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-fives by David Gettman, pages 162-163
• Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock, pages 80-81, 110-111