Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori “Mastering Large Number 2024Cards”

Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori (Introduction to Large Number Cards)

Large  Number cards are 36 white wooden/plastic cards of varying sizes with numeral written on the as described below;

• The units ( 1 to 9) are printed in green.
• The tens (10 to 90) are printed in blue.
• The hundreds (100 to 900) are printed in red.
• The units of thousands (1000 to 9000) are printed in green.

The ten cards are twice the width of the unit cards. The hundred cards are three times the width of the unit cards. The thousand cards are four times the width of the unit cards.

Exercise  1

Introduction to Symbol Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori 

MATERIAL

The Large Number cards of 1, 10, 1000, as described above.

PREREQUISITE

The child must be able to count any quantity up to 9999 using golden bead material.

AGE 4 to 5 years

EXERCISE

Note: Complete work cycle is to be observed Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.

1. Introduce the numbers “1”, “10”, “100”, and “1000” in the same way as we introduce quantities 1 unit, 1 ten, 1 hundred and 1 thousand using  three period lessons in the introductory exercise with Golden Bead material.

First Period

1. Place the numeral cards  for 1, 10, 100, and 1000 on a table.
2. Arrange numerals as shown in the picture.
3. Point to the unit card and say, “This is how we write one unit.”
4. Then, point to the ten cards and say, “This is how we write one ten.”
5. Similarly, point to the hundred card and say, “This is how we write one hundred.”
6. Finally, point to the thousand cards and say, “This is how we write on a thousand.”
7. Repeat a few times and then move to period 2.

Second period 

1. Place the cards in random order in front of the child. Say;

• “Show me one hundred”.
• “Show me one thousand”.
• “Show me one ten”.
• “Show me one unit.”

 

1. Repeat this period occasionally changing the order of the number cards.
2. When the child is not making any mistakes, they proceed to the third period.

Third period

12. Place a card in front of the child and ask , “What is this?”

    13.Continue in the same manner with all the numbers.

EXTENSION

1. After completing Three Period Lessons, hold all the cards in your hand.
2. Place the “1000” on the table and say, “We have learned that this is how we write one thousand…”
3. Then, show the child 100 cards and say “We have also learned that  this is how we write one hundred” and then place the  “100” card on top of the  “1000” card so as their left ends are even.
4. Then, show the child 10 cards and say “We have also learned that this is how we write one ten” and then place the “10” card on top of the “100” card.
5. Finally, show the child 1 card and say “We have also learned that this is how we write one unit “and then place the “1” card on top of the “10”card.
6.  At the end read the number again pointing to the values as 1111 (one thousand, one hundred, one ten and 1 unite).

Exercise 2: Complete Layout of Large number Cards 

MATERIAL

• The large number cards
• A mat or table large enough to do exercise 

AGE 4 years and older 

PURPOSE

• To introduce complete written numeric symbols.
•  To give the idea that after every nine progression we must go to one of the next hierarchies.

EXERCISE

Note: complete work cycle is to be observed Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.

1. This exercise is just like Passing Nine Game explained previously but done with numerals instead of Golden Bead Material.
2. Bring the box of large number cards to the workplace.
3. Take out the unit cards and arrange them from 1 to 9 vertically on the mat towards the extreme left.
4. Say the names of the numerals as you lay them. Also ask the child to say their names. When you reach 9 units (and there are no more unt cards), ask the child, “What comes after nine units?” The child will say 10 units.
5. Show the child 1 ten cards and say. “We call ten units one ten.”
6. Then begins to arrange the tens vertically on the of units, while you and the child are saying the names of each card. When you reach nine, ask the  child. “What comes after nine tens?” The child will say 10 tens.
7. Show the child a card of a hundred and say, “We call 10 tens one hundred.”
8. Then begin to arrange the hundreds by putting them on the left of tens. Ask the child to say the names with you. When you reach 9 hundred, ask the child the same question, “What comes after 9 hundreds”.
9. When the child says ten hundred, show him the card of 1 thousand and say, “We call 10 hundreds of thousands.”
10. Finally arrange all the thousand cards towards the extreme left while you and the child say their names.
11. Repeat the lesson on subsequent days as long as the child is enjoying the lesson .
12. Keep the material available on the shelf and allow the child to work with it whenever he likes.

Exercise 3:Group game Identifying Numerals

MATERIAL

• To further understand the Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.
• To enable children to read and compose any quantity till 9999.

AGE 4  and half years and older 

EXERCISE

Note: Complete work cycle is to be observed Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.

1. This should preferably be done as a group exercise with 3 to 5 children. 
2. Invite a few children who have done the previous exercises.
3. Bring the material to the workplace with the help of the children.
4. Arrange a complete layout of large number cards as described in the previous exercise.
5. The material should be in correct order facing the children.
6. Begin with only one hierarchy, until the children are doing  to work easily.
7. Put a number on the tray, e.g. put four hundred cards on the tray.
8. Show it to the group and ask,  “Who told me how much this is?”
9. When a child has answered correctly, put the material back on the mat.
10. Then, put another number, for example 3 hundred cards, on the tray and ask another child to tell how much is that.
11. Continue the exercise in this way.
12. If a child does not participate, announce while you put a number in the tray that this is for “Ali” to answer. Everyone else watched Ali quietly.

EXTENSION

Play the game in the reverse order. Say a number and ask a child to put the corresponding number card in the tray. For example “Who would put 4 hundred in the tray?”

When the children can easily read and compose quantities from one hierarchy separately, use numbers from more than two hierarchies. For example, put 4 thousand cards first, and then 7 hundred cards on the top of it in the tray and ask  a child to read it. Also the top extension exercises with number cards from more than one hierarchy. Continue the  exercise till the children can read and compose any number till 9999.

Exercise 4: Group Game Matching Numbers and Quantities 

MATERIAL

• A set of Large Number Cards
• 9 golden bead units 
• 9 ten bars
• 9 hundred squares 
• 9 thousand cubes 
• A tray 

PURPOSE

• To associate numerals with the quantities.
• To provide further practice in the decimal system .

AGE 4.5 to 5.5 years 

EXERCISE

Note : Complete work cycle is to be  observed Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.

1. This should preferably be done as a group exercise with 3 to 5 children .
2. Invite a few children who have done the previous exercise. 
3. Bring  the material to a table/mat with the help of the children. 
4. Lay out the complete set of large numbers cards on one table in the right order.
5. Arrange the golden bead material in sequence on a green felt made in another table.
6. Being with only one hierarchy, until the children are doing the work easily .
7. Put a  quantity on the tray, e.g. 3 hundred squares.
8. Show it to the children and ask,” Who will count how much it is?”
9. When a shield has counted it correctly, ask  who would like to go and put the numeral”300” with the quantity.
10. When a child has placed the correct numeral with the quantity both the quantity and the numeral returned to their respective places.
11. Continue placing quantities in the tray and ask children to bring the corresponding numerals in the same way.

EXTENSIONS

• Play the game in the reverse order. Put a number in the tray and ask a child to bring the corresponding quantity in the tray. For instance, put a card on the tray(let’s say  “400”). The children read it and a child brings four thousand in the tray.
• When the children can easily associate quantities and numerals from one hierarchy separately, use quantities and numerals from more than two hierarchies. For example, put 4 thousands and 7 hundreds in the tray and ask a child to count it. Then ask him to bring the corresponding numerals. Also do the extension exercises with quantities from more than one hierarchy.
• Continue the exercise till the children can associate any quantity and the respective numerals till 9999.

Exercise 5: Exchanging Game 

MATERIAL

• Enough Quantity of Golden Bead Material 
• Tray and pots
• A floor mat.

PURPOSE

• To enable the child to count any quantity of numbers.
• To make the child familiar with the process of exchanging.

EXERCISE

Note: Complete work cycle is to be observed Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori. 

This exercise can be done with one child or a group of 2 to 4 children.

1. Invite a child who has done the previous exercises.
2. Bring the material to a mat with the help of the child.
3. Set up the ‘bank’ with the help of the child.
4. Put a lot of bead material in the tray. Making sure that there are more than 10 units of beads,  10 bars of ten, 10 hundred squares but a few thousands so that the total quantity does not exceed 9999.
5. Ask the child to help you arrange the material in the correct order on the mat .
6. Ask the child to start counting the units, placing them under one another as if building a bar of ten.
7. When he reaches 10, ask him to exchange the ten unit beads with a ten-bead bar from the bank.
8. Place the ten-bead bar a little above the existing bars of tens, and proceed with the rest of the units.
9. Continue to exchange the units in the same way whenever the child reaches 10, until they are less than 10.
10. When there are less than 10 units left, proceed with counting the ten bars. Also include the ten bear bars placed on top, counting them as, `1 ten, 2 ten ,….` While counting place the bars as of building a square of hundred.
11. When the child reaches “10”, ask him to change it with a hundred squares from the bank.
12.  Place the hundred square a little above the existing squares of hundred in the same way as you placed the exchanged bar of ten.
13. Proceed with counting the rest of the ten bead bars. Each time the child reaches ten tens, he must replace them with a hundred squares, until there are less than 10 tens left. 
14. When there are less than ten bars left, start counting the hundred squares in the same manner.
15. Replacing every ten hundred squares with a thousand cubes.
16. Finally count the thousands and the quantity with Large Number Cards.

EXTENSION

After counting as the child to bring corresponding numerals from Large number Cards and place beside the quantity. 

(Note: Make sure the number never goes higher than 9,999 at this stage.)

Exercise 6: The Bird’s Eye  View 

MATERIAL

• 45 golden bead units.
• 45 ten bars 
• 45 hundred squares
• 1 thousand cube 
• A set of large number cards 1 to 1000
• A felt lined tray
• A large green felt mat 

PURPOSE of Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori

• To enable the child to have a bird’s eye view of the decimal number system arranged with quantities and their corresponding numerals.

AGE 4.5 to 5.5 tears

EXERCISE of 

Note: Complete work cycle is to be observed Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.

1. Invite a child who has done the previous exercises and bring the material to the workplace.
2. Starting with the unit cards, take 1 card and place it toward the top right of the position of the mat.
3. Ask the child how much is this, when he says one, ask him to bring one bead and place it along with it.
4. Then place the 2 cards just below the previous card and ask the child how much is that .
5. Ask him to place two unit beads beside the. Ask him to place the first bead and the second bead below it, in this way the progressive pattern will appear as if we are building a bar of ten.
6. Continue in the same way till the whole set of Large number Cards is laid out in the correct order along with the corresponding quantities Numeration of the Decimal System in Montessori.