It has been a while M. is getting to know her numbers. Many children at her age should know how to count to ten, but who really knows what 1 or 5 means. As usual I found it silly to just teach notions without the child's knowing the meaning of it.
I found it useful to teach M. her numbers via a home made Montessori material for number and quantity recognition called spindle box. The spindles clarify the idea that the symbols represent a certain quantity of separate objects, it also introduce the concept of zero and its symbol and reinforce the natural sequence of the numerals. This activity is also self-corrective: if the counting has been incorrect, at the end there will be either an insufficient number of spindles or some left over.
This is the original spindle box
This is my spindle box
I bought separate plastic baskets (probably they are meant to contain forks and spoons...) from 99p shop.
I drew a number in each of them. They must be put next to each other in order before commencing the activity.
For the spindle I bought same colour pencils from the 99p shop
How to use it:
Point out the compartments and the numerals the child knows. Point to them all, one at a time, and have the child give the number’s names.
Tell the child that these numbers will tell us how many spindles to put in the box.
Point to the number 1. Have the child read it and then say, “We will put 1 spindle in this box.”
Place one spindle in the compartment.
Repeat for 2, counting the spindles as you place them, “One, two.” Continue this up to 4.
Have the child place the correct spindles in the remaining compartments.
Once all of the spindles have been placed, look at compartment 0 and notice that there is nothing in it.
Say, “This is zero. Zero means nothing. That is why there is nothing in this spot.
Have the child take out the two spindles from container 2. Have him do this one by one and count as he does so.
Have the child tie a rubber band around the two spindles and replace them in the 2 slot.
Repeat for the other spindles.
Then take out the 1 spindle and place it gently back into the basket.
Take out the other spindles group by group, and after taking off the rubber bands, place them one by one (counting as the child does this) back into the basket.
Ask the child why there was no spindle in the 0 container.
SANDPAPER NUMBERS
Almost everyone would have heard of sandpaper numbers and letters. They are commonly used in Montessori nurseries, but I have became more wide spread nowadays.
If you will ever want to buy a set be prepared because they are very pricey, this is not quite right, since the materials costs are quite reasonable.
Home made ones while be cheap to make and will be just the same. The numbers are cut out of fine sandpaper and glued onto wooden tablets.
To make my sandpaper numbers tablets I bought cheap MDF picture frames to hung on the wall, the ones without frame. (the cost came to around 3 pounds for 10 tablets)
Bought 4 sandpaper sheet (cost 1pound)
You can print numbers templates to cut out the sandpaper, I just drew the numbers on it and cut them out
I then glued the numbers onto the tablets
I bought a nice box to put them in
The child is asked to trace the numbers with his two fingers passing on the sandpaper (the sandpaper guides the child’s fingertips). This activity is useful to teach the child the symbols for the numbers he knows, and to provide him with the keys to the world of written numbers.
Indirectly is a preparation for the writing of numerals.
Do not teach all the numbers at once, start with a group of 3 numbers:
Take out 1, trace three times and say its name: “one”
Give to the child to repeat.
Place the board at the top of the table.
Repeat for numbers 2 and 3.
Do a Three Period Lesson with numbers 1, 2, and 3.
Repeat for numbers 4, 5, and 6.
Then repeat for numbers 7, 8, and 9.
Depending on the child, this may be taught over a few days
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