Carrots Are Orange

Montessori Parenting & Learning

  • Montessori
    • Principles
    • Curriculum
      • Geography
      • History
      • Language
      • Life Science
        • Botany
        • Zoology
      • Math
      • Peace
      • Practical Life
      • Sensorial
    • Classroom
    • Theory
    • Materials
    • Courses
    • Printables
  • Activities
    • Art
    • Fall
    • Montessori
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Summer
    • Fine Motor
  • Parenting
    • Montessori Toys
    • Montessori At Home
    • Mindfulness
    • Social & Emotional Learning
    • Special Needs
      • Anxiety In Kids
      • Gifted Children
      • Executive Functioning
      • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Printables
  • Resources
    • Book Lists
    • Gift Guides
    • Montessori Materials
    • Montessori Toys
  • Newsletter
  • About
    • Contact
Home » Montessori » Curriculum » Montessori Lesson: Learn about Golden Beads

Montessori Lesson: Learn about Golden Beads

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure .

The overview of Montessori golden beads continues the child down the path of learning place value and the decimal system. The goal for the child is to garner a sense of quantities represented in the decimal system, and to see the exchange of quantities as units become ten, tens become hundred, and so on.  This lesson is generally for 5 years and older.

How to present Montessori golden beads

Montessori Golden Beads Presentation I

Transition from Bead to Wooden Material

Golden Beads - Montessori Math

Introducing the wooden material very simply transitions the child from bead to wooden material.

Golden Beads - Montessori Math

Montessori Golden Beads Presentation II

Explain to the child that this work requires two mats. Have the child help spread the mats. Get the container of the units and begin to count them.

Place the units in a well-spaced vertical line at the right side of the mat.

Put one unit at the top: “one unit”.

Then two units next in line: “one, two units”.

Place three units next in line: “one, two, three units”.

The child takes over at this point.

Golden Bead Lesson - Montessori Math

At nine units explain, “You have nine units. What comes next? Yes, ten. So we need a ten bar instead of ten units. We also move to a new place.”

Get out the ten bars and start a vertical row to the left of the units. Proceed in a similar manner to presenting the units.

Golden Bead Lesson - Montessori Math

After the 9th set of ten bars, “Now, you’ve lined up nine ten bars, what do you need next? Right, hundreds. Where will you put the hundreds. That is right. We have to put them in a new place.”

Have the child bring the hundred squares. Lay out the hundred squares in a vertical row. Introduce in a similar manner as the units and the tens.

Golden Bead Lesson - Montessori Math

After nine hundreds, ask the child what comes next and where it goes. Ask her to bring thousand cubes over to the mat.

Introduce the thousand cubes in a similar manner to the units, the tens and the hundreds. The cubes are stacked on top of one another. Once all the cubes are stacked, invite the child to stand at the bottom

Golden Bead Lesson Variations

  • Question the child about the place values as he admires the finished work
  • Ask the child to point out various quantities on the mat
  • Have the child “teach” another child from the classroom
  • Child can place quantities “randomly” or two at a time rather than all the units at once

Golden Bead Extensions

  • Draw or color a sketch of the layout
  • A child can recreate using other objects

Related Resource: Check out this AMAZING Preschool Math Bundle!

Related Montessori Math Lessons:

  • Learn the Montessori Sensorial Binomial Cube Lesson
  • Montessori’s Trinomial Cube Introduces Preschoolers to Math
  • Montessori Lesson: Learn about Golden Beads
  • Montessori Math Number Rod Addition
  • 80 + Easy & Engaging Every Day Montessori Math Extensions
  • How Montessori Teaches Math – Ten Board Lesson
  • How to Use the Montessori Small Bead Frame for Math
  • 50+ Montessori Math Resources & Recommendations
  • Learn Montessori’s Snake Math Game

I’d love to see how you present Montessori golden beads in the classroom or at home. Come by the Carrots Are Orange Facebook page to share your presentations.

Thanks for reading!

Marnie

Montessori Math Lessons

Spindle Boxes - Learn a Montessori Math Lesson

Montessori Math Sandpaper Numerals

Montessori Math Number Rods & Numerals

Montessori Math Cards and Counters Lesson

Montessori Math Beads Presentation Tray

Montessori Math Equivalence & Crisis of Nine Tray

Montessori Math Introduction to Numerals of the Decimal System

Montessori Math Multiplication with Short Bead Stair

Montessori Math Number Rod Addition

Montessori Math Golden Bead Static Addition

Montessori Math Composition of Symbols

Learn the Teen Board Montessori Math Lesson

Learn Montessori's Snake Math Game

AMS Montessori Math Lessons Sequence

Intro to Math for Kids {Triangle Stars}

Tagged With: Shelf Work

About Marnie Craycroft

Marnie hails from Maine where she spent summers buried in sand and winters buried in snow. She is the daughter of a nearly four decade veteran of the public school systems. Teaching has always been a part of her life. She founded Carrots Are Orange in 2010.

Carrots Are Orange is a Montessori learning and living website for parents and teachers.

Marnie graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999 with a BA in Economics. She spent nearly a decade working in investment management. In 2006, she earned her MA in business from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Marnie moved to the west coast in 1999 and currently lives in Boulder with her husband and three sons. She is Montessori trained. Her work has been featured on Apartment Therapy, Buzzfeed, PBS Kids, BabyCenter, the Melissa & Doug blog, Huffington Post, and WhattoExpect.com. Besides writing, passions include running (usually after her three sons), photography, and outdoor adventures.

« Ridiculously Effective Montessori Grammar Activities
How to Use the Montessori Small Bead Frame for Math »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Unschooling: Can I Homeschool Without a Curriculum?
  • Your One Stop Shop – The BEST Montessori Math Materials & Activities
  • Resources for Teaching Geography to Elementary Aged Kids
  • 65+ Fantasy Fiction Books for 11 to 13 Year Old Boys and Girls
  • Looking for Delightful Read-Aloud Books for the Whole Family?

Copyright © 2022 Carrots Are Orange · Disclosure & Copyright · Site by Design by Insight

  • 2