What you need for this portion:

For this lesson, you need the number rods. Start with placing only the first three rods on a tray and placing on the shelf.

There are lots of ways to DIY number rods. 

You can use red and blue unifix cubes or even mega blocks, duplos, or legos. 

The small tabletop rods are also inexpensive and work perfectly well. 

Click on the image below to download a printable version of the number rods. It's best printed on heavy cardstock. 

The number rods are the first math materials introduced in the Montessori math curriculum. They are a set of 10 rods, segmented into red and blue - red always comes first when you're laying them down.  

So now, why are these such an amazing way to teach quantity?

It's because of the amazing visual that they offer. The child can visually see the difference between each quantity and also feel the difference - one is shorter than the rest and ten is longer than the rest. They feel different and look different.

Another really cool thing about these rods is that the quantities are linked together. So two isn't two separate pieces, it's linked together, which provides a more solid and concrete depiction of the quantity than two separate parts - which actually comes a little later as we graduate from concrete to abstract.

So, are you ready to get started!?

In this section, you will find a variety of games to play with the number rods. By no means do you have to play ALL of them. They are simply to help master the concept. You might play a game a day, you might skip a few days... you might even skip a few games. What you are looking for is thorough understanding of one to one correspondence in your child. If they can point out a certain number rod and count it's segments with ease, they have mastered the concept. You can also move on to the next lesson as you work your way through these games. 

A set of green boards with numbers from 1 to 10 in sandpaper, felt, or glitter paper. These are an easy DIY.

Cut out 4 x 3.5 inch squares on green poster board. Even cardboard works!

Cut out numbers 1 - 10 with sandpaper, felt, or glitter paper. You want a color that contrasts the background. So if you're using cardboard, go for green numbers. If you're using a green background, go for tan or brown or black numbers. 

Glue them on and that's all! 

The sandpaper numbers create muscle memory in the child's mind, helping them to have hands-on practice with formation. The main purposes for this material are to teach the written symbols corresponding to quantity, and to help children to make the association between name and symbol. This is a key lesson to help children understand the world of written numbers. 

We do not introduce this work until the child understands the Number Rod material because we want the child to understand the concept of quantity before we go on to assigning symbols.

A few notes before you get started:

Before starting this lesson, tell the child to wash their hands to help keep the sandpaper letters from getting dirt and oil on them. This will also teach them that the work is precious and special. 

Show the child the material and how to carry it to the work space, slowly and carefully. 

You'll begin by taking out the first three numbers to do the first of the Three Period Lessons. We begin with only the first three numerals (1,2,3). Once the child has progressed through the three period lesson with these numerals, the next set of three is introduced using the same lesson structure. 

Let's get started!

Association of Rods and cards, Intro to the number 10

• Stack the number cards so that the number 10 is at the bottom of the stack, and all the others are in random order on top of it. 
• Bring the stack of cards to the work space and show your child the first number. For this example, let's say it's number two. 
• Ask, "Do you know what this number is?" Your child should say yes it is number two. (If they do not know, go back to reviewing the sandpaper numerals.)
• Now ask the child to go and get the rod of two from the  number rods and bring it to the work space. 
• When your child comes back have him place the rod on the work surface, touch it, and count it the way that he did when learning the number rods. 
• Place the card at the end of the rod on the last section and say the name of the number, in this case "two."

• Repeat this process until your child has all the cards except 10 on the work surface.
• Ask him "is there a rod left on the shelf?" When he answers that there is, ask which rod it is. When the child says "ten" ask them to bring it to the work space. 
• When the 10 rod is set on the work surface, show him the number 10 card and say "This is number 10," and have him place the number ten at the end of the rod.

Spindle mat/box with 45 spindles in a container 

OPTIONAL: 9 ties or rubbers for tying the spindles

The Zero Game is a fun game used to introduce the idea of zero - of nothing. The best part? You need no special material for this game. 

"I'm going to show you the zero game today."

"Clap two times. Now clap four times. Clap three times... Clap zero times."

*child wondering what on earth!?*

"There you go! Zero means nothing. So you clapped zero times!"

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Collect a few objects and make several groups of one, two, three, four, etc... It doesn't have to be a lot, just a couple. 

*point to a group*

"How many are here?"

*child answers*

Point to another group.

"What about here?"

*child answers*

Then point to a space that has nothing."

Maybe the child says there's nothing... or is confused. 

Be silly and say, "It's zero! Zero means nothing!"

Take the spindle mat and spindles to your work space

• Make sure you have set out only just enough spindles in the box. There should be no extras. 
• Point to and trace zero and ask the child which number it is. When he answers "0", say, "zero means nothing, so we will leave this empty."
• Trace 1. "This says 1." Pick up one spindle and dramatically place into your palm and count, "one!". Wrap your hand around it. Place it into the pocket labeled '1'.
• Continue on the same way with the next number. 
• Now invite your child to do the same for the remaining empty sections (continue with the second mat if the child demonstrates mastery during the first mat), they must count out loud for each spindle!

For this lesson, you need the number cards from the previous lessons.

If you're DIYing and you already have sandpaper numbers, use them for this lesson. It works perfectly well... If not, then all you need to do is write down the numbers 1 through 10 on cardboard (use those Amazon boxes!) or some stiff paper.

Additionally, you'll need 55 items to count with. The kit comes with glass marble counters. It's great if you have matching items, but it's not necessary. Use things that you already have around your house... things that your child is already interested in. Cars, farm animals, dolls....

You can get really creative with counters, whether you buy them or make them yourself. If you want to make them, you can cut out squares from felt (I say square instead of circles, because 55 circles would be a pain to cut out.) How about some cheerios? Those make AMAZING edible counters! And fairly easy to put together too!