Montessori Math Golden Bead Static Addition

The beauty of Montessori Math continues with the Golden Bead Static Addition lesson.

Invite the children to learn addition with the golden beads.

Golden Bead Static Addition Lesson

Each child needs a tray. Ask one child to get the numerals “1341” from the small numeral cards. Ask him to read the cards and slide them together. Ask him to get the quantity from the bank. Give a second child the numeral “2435” and proceed with the same approach.

When each child returns from the bank with their quantities, ask them to tell you what they’ve brought you.

Have the first child place his quantity in the correct columns at the top of the mat, and his numerals to the right. The second child then should place his quantity and symbols a few inches below the first child’s.

“Now we have 1341 and 2435 beads here. I am going to put them together in one place. When we put things together it is called addition because we are adding the two numbers together. We always add the units first.”

Slide the top group of numerals down to the bottom group and both groups to the bottom edge of the mat, below the equal sign.

Ask one of the children to count the units and to retrieve a large numeral card, which tells us how many beads we have after adding together. Place the large numeral card below the units column of the small numeral cards.

Ask the second child to scoop the ten bars together and then to the bottom of the mat. Ask him to count the ten bars, to retrieve a large numeral card that corresponds to the number of ten bars and to place the large numeral card next to the units numeral card.

Continue with the approach.  One child adds 100s. The other child adds 1000s.

“Now look what happened when we added 1341 and 2435…we got 3776. When we add, we use a special sign to show what we’re doing. It is called a plus sign, and it goes here.

We also need another sign to show that we are writing the new number that we got by adding. It is called the equal sign and it goes here. So now we have 1341 + 2435 = 3776.”

Review the names for the plus and equal signs with a 3-period lesson.

Invite the children to put the quantity and symbols away. Then give them a new number. Three problems is a great start for the first time with this work. With each problem, withdraw more and more.

Related Read: Learn the Teen Board Montessori Math Lesson