Material name: Introduction to the Decimal System – Beads
(Montessori Decimal System Introduction / Golden Bead Introduction)
Area: Mathematics
Purpose & developmental benefits:
The Introduction to the Decimal System – Beads material introduces children to the structure of the decimal system (1–10–100–1000) through concrete, hands-on experiences with unit beads, ten bars, hundred squares, and thousand cubes. Children discover that quantities can be combined, separated, and exchanged, forming a solid conceptual foundation for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Skills supported:
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Recognizes and compares units, tens, hundreds, and thousands
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Understands place value in the decimal system
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Develops concrete mathematical thinking
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Strengthens hand–eye coordination through counting and arranging beads
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Prepares for advanced work with Golden Beads and large-number operations
Recommended age: 4–6 years
Material & design:
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Unit beads, in standard Montessori golden color
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Ten bars (10-bead bars)
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Hundred squares (100-bead squares)
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Thousand cubes (1000-bead cubes)
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May include trays or containers for sorting and presentation
Use in the classroom / at home:
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Introduction to the basic decimal system
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Comparing quantities across different place values
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Activities combining units into tens, hundreds, and thousands
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A foundational material leading to Golden Bead Material and operations with golden beads
