Material name: Ten Boards with Beads (Montessori Ten Boards with Beads, 20–99)
Area: Mathematics
Purpose & developmental benefits:
Ten Boards with Beads help children understand and remember numbers from 20 to 99 by combining ten boards (20, 30, 40, etc.) with unit beads. Through this work, children discover that two-digit numbers are made up of tens and units, while also linking numerical symbols with concrete quantities. This material builds a strong foundation for the decimal system and later arithmetic.
Skills supported:
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Recognizes and reads numbers 20–99
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Understands the tens + units structure of two-digit numbers
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Connects numbers and quantities through hands-on bead work
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Develops counting, comparison, and concentration skills
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Prepares for Formation of Numbers and Decimal System work
Recommended age: 4.5–6 years
Material & design:
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Ten boards printed with the tens (20–90)
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Loose numeral cards (1–9) to complete the numbers
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Ten-bead bars
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Unit beads (1–9)
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Beads in standard Montessori golden color; boards made of wood or sturdy board with rounded edges
Use in the classroom / at home:
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Children combine a ten board and a unit card to form two-digit numbers
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Place ten bars and add the corresponding unit beads
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Teacher calls out a number and children build it using boards and beads
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Used together with Teen Boards with Beads to complete the sequence 11–99
