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Home » Montessori » Curriculum » Math » Spindle Boxes – Learn a Montessori Math Lesson

Spindle Boxes – Learn a Montessori Math Lesson

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure .

Spindle Boxes are part of Montessori Math Introduction to Numeration. Although gorgeous and reasonably priced, one of the best things about a Spindle Box is that you can make your own fairly easily at home with sticks, pipe cleaners, straws, etc. Plus, there are many variations of objects to keep the work interesting is always a bonus.

Spindle Boxes - a Montessori Math Lesson

The main aims of this work are to guide a child in his learning to count and to introduce the concept of “zero”.

spindle_boxes

Montessori Math Spindle Boxes

Here is how I present the Spindle Boxes to a child:

Invite the child to do the work. Get a mat and spread it on the floor.

Presentation I

Carry boxes, spindles and mat one at a time to the mat. Place as shown in the image.

spindle_initial

“Would you like to learn how to use the spindle boxes today?”

spindle_pointing_numeral

Point the numeral one: “Do you remember what this is? Yes, it is one.”  Move through the numerals included in the box.

hand_spindle

  • Count a spindle from the box & transfer to your other hand to place in the one: “One”.
  • Point to the next numeral and repeat the same approach, restating the quantity and finish counting each spindle into the box.
  • Go through five, at which point the child will be most likely ready to take over the work. If not, invite him to do so.

spindel_zero

When all of the spindles have been distributed, point at the zero: “What is in here? Yes, nothing. It is empty because zero means none.”

  • To put spindles away, begin with section one and return them to the basket section by section. Count as I drop them back into the basket. I might also ask the child to go section by section to grasp the spindles and return them to the basket, counting them as they drop into the basket.
  • Return to shelf once all the spindles have been put into their respective sections.

 

spindle_final

Montessori Math Resources

  • The Ultimate List of Materials & Resources
  • Spindle Boxes 
  • How to Teach Montessori Math to Kids
  • Montessori Math Sequence of Lessons

Thanks for reading!
Marnie

Tagged With: Math, Numeration, 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.

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