Group operations: Static division (without change)

How static division is presented using the golden beads

For this activity, children learn how to divide numbers using the golden beads. This activity can be done in groups or individually, children always seem to really enjoy it.

The directress asks the children to lay out the floor mats onto the carpet one by one. She then asks one child to fetch the large number cards and lay them out, she asks another child to do the same for the small number cards, and finally, another child is asked to fetch the golden beads and lay them out.

The Montessori Math term ‘dividend’ refers to the number that the directress comes up with, for example, 3663. She makes this number up with the large number cards, and one child goes to collect the corresponding beads from the banker and brings them back.

The directress then gives each child a tray and tells them they will be sharing this number equally among them, the directress divides this number. This time they begin with the thousands, not the units. She shares the beads out evenly amongst the children, she gives each child one-thousand bead cube, two-hundred bead squares, two-ten bead bars, and one-unit bead.

The children become fascinated as they begin to realize they each have the same amount of beads and the same number after collecting the corresponding small number cards. The directress then explains to the children the answer that is on the tray is the answer to the sum, so therefore 3663 divided by 3 is 1221.

What does the child learn by doing this activity?

This activity gives the child a concrete experience of division, it prepares the child for maths that he will be doing later on, and it teaches the child the term ‘division’.

Looking for more Montessori activities?

Here is a list of all the Montessori Maths activities including Early Maths, Introduction to the Decimal System, Seguin Boards, The Hundred Board, The Short Bead Stair, Bead Chains, The Snake Game, Group Operations, The Large Number Rods, Recording with the Small Number Rods, The Short Bead Stair, The Strip Boards, The Boards, The Stamp Game, The Abacus, The Dot Game, and Fractions. Just click on the page you want to learn about to go there.