Material name: Formation of Numbers (Montessori Formation of Numbers)
Area: Mathematics
Purpose & developmental benefits:
The Formation of Numbers material helps children understand how numbers from 11–19 and 21–99 are formed using tens and unit cards. Through hands-on construction, children learn to build, read, and interpret two-digit numbers, discovering that each number is composed of different groups of units. This work provides a strong foundation for advanced addition and subtraction.
Skills supported:
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Builds and reads two-digit numbers (11–99)
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Clearly understands the concepts of tens and units
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Develops the ability to construct larger numbers through concrete manipulation
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Enhances logical thinking, observation, and comparison
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Prepares for work with Golden Beads and arithmetic operations
Recommended age: 4.5–6 years
Material & design:
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A set of tens cards (10, 20, 30, etc.)
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A set of unit cards (1–9)
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Color-coded according to Montessori standards:
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Green for units
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Dark blue for tens
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May include a tray or stand for card placement
Use in the classroom / at home:
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Children combine a tens card and a unit card to form new numbers (e.g. 30 + 4 = 34)
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Teacher names a number and children build the corresponding numeral
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Practice reading two-digit numbers and improving number recognition speed
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Can be integrated with Decimal Beads and Decimal Cards for deeper understanding
