Material name: Skip Counting (Montessori Skip Counting)
Area: Mathematics
Purpose & developmental benefits:
Skip Counting introduces children to counting by intervals (such as 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s), helping them naturally recognize number patterns and multiples. Through hands-on work with number sequences and concrete materials, children discover the connection between repeated counting and multiplication, building a strong foundation for more advanced mathematics.
Skills supported:
-
Counts by intervals (2s, 5s, 10s, 20s, etc.)
-
Recognizes patterns and multiples
-
Prepares for multiplication and times tables
-
Develops logical thinking and predictive skills
-
Strengthens concentration and numerical memory
Recommended age: 5–7 years
(appropriate after experience with Linear Counting and the Decimal System)
Material & design:
-
May include bead chains, counting bars, or number cards for each interval
-
Beads or blocks in standard Montessori colors, easy to observe and handle
-
May include arrow cards to mark counting milestones
Use in the classroom / at home:
-
Children count using fixed intervals (e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20…)
-
Compare different skip-counting sequences
-
Connect skip counting with multiplication concepts
-
Suitable for individual or small-group math activities
