Material name: Montessori Skip Counting (Skip Counting Material)
Area: Mathematics
Purpose & developmental benefits:
The Skip Counting material helps children become familiar with counting in equal intervals (counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s, etc.). Through hands-on, visual sequences, children naturally recognize number patterns and multiples. By repeatedly counting in structured steps, they begin to see the link between repeated counting and multiplication—building a strong foundation for more advanced mathematics.
Skills children develop:
-
Skip count in different intervals (2s, 5s, 10s, 20s, etc.)
-
Recognize patterns and multiples
-
Prepare for multiplication and multiplication tables
-
Develop logical thinking and prediction skills
-
Strengthen concentration and number memory
Recommended age: 5–7 years old (best introduced after children are comfortable with Linear Counting and the Decimal System)
Materials & components:
-
May include bead chains, counting bars, or number cards for each interval
-
Montessori-standard colored beads/blocks for clear visual tracking
-
May include arrow cards to mark counting landmarks
Use in the classroom / at home:
-
Children count forward in fixed intervals (e.g., 5–10–15–20…)
-
Compare different skip-counting sequences
-
Connect skip counting to multiplication tables
-
Suitable for individual work or small-group math activities