Material name: Wooden Hierarchy Material – Montessori Wooden Hierarchy Material
Area: Mathematics (Decimal System)
Purpose & developmental benefits:
The Wooden Hierarchy Material helps children recognize and visually compare the levels of value in the decimal system through progressively increasing sizes and shapes. By seeing, touching, and arranging the wooden pieces, children understand the relationships between units, tens, hundreds, and thousands. This hands-on experience builds a clear and lasting concept of numerical hierarchy before moving on to more complex operations.
Skills children develop:
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Recognize place value
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Compare relative sizes and values across number categories
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Develop logical thinking and classification skills
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Strengthen concentration and precise hand movements
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Prepare for work with the Decimal System and mathematical operations
Recommended age: 4–6 years old
Materials & components:
Use in the classroom / at home:
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Children arrange the blocks in ascending order
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Compare size and value between different hierarchy levels
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Introduce the decimal system in a concrete, visual way
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Combine with Decimal Beads and Number Cards to connect quantity, symbol, and form