Group operations: Static subtraction (without change)

How this activity is presented

This activity teaches the child how to do subtraction with the golden beads. In Montessori Maths the term ‘minuend’ is the larger number which is made up of the large number cards. And the term ‘subtrahend’ is the smaller number which is subtracted from the larger number, is made up of the small number cards.

This activity can be done in groups or individually. The directress begins the activity by asking the child to lay out the floor mats one by one onto the carpet. She then comes up with a number, for example, 587 from the large number cards and places it on the child’s tray. The child then goes to the banker to collect the corresponding beads for that number.

The directress makes up a smaller number, for example, 345 from the small number cards. The child is asked to subtract the units first, then the tens, then hundreds.

She reminds the child that the smaller number is taken away from the larger number. The child begins to subtract five units from seven units. Then moving onto the tens, subtracting four tens from eight tens, and finally the hundreds, he subtracts three hundreds from five hundreds. The child ends up with the answer of 242.

The directress asks the child to fetch the small number cards for 242 and to place them on the mat. She helps the child to pack away and comes up with more sums if the child wants to continue.

What the child learns by doing this activity

This activity gives the child a concrete experience of subtraction, it introduces the child to the term ‘subtraction’, as well as this activity prepares the child for learning facts about subtraction.

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.