Multiplication Board

What is the Montessori Multiplication Board?

The Multiplication Board is a wooden board used in a Montessori classroom in the Math area. The board has 100 holes arranged in 10 rows of ten. There is a slot on the left of the board for the number card to be inserted in. The numbers 1-10 are printed along the top of the board. A red counter is slotted into the top left-hand corner of the board.

For this activity, we also use 100 red beads which are kept in a wooden box, ten numbers cards with the numbers 1-10 printed on them in red, which are kept in another wooden box, Multiplication Series 1, 2, and 3 sum cards, a whiteboard marker and cloth.

How is multiplication presented with the Multiplication Board?

The directress begins by introducing the board, the box containing the beads, and the box containing the number cards to the child. She shows him the series sum card and points out that they need to multiply by 2. She asks the child to find the number 2 card and shows him how to place it into the slot on the side of the board.

She reminds the child of the multiplication (x) and the equals (=) signs. The directress then reads the first operation from the sum card to the child (1 x 2 =) She tells him that we need to take 1 twice. She shows him how to place the red counter above 1 on the board, she then places 2 beads below number 1.

The directress explains to the child that the answer is the number of beads on the board. She asks him to count the beads (2) and then she shows him where to record the answer. The beads are left on the board.

The directress reads the next operation (2 x 2 =) and moves the counter above number 2. She tells the child that they need two 2’s. She counts out another 2 beads and places them to the right of the beads that are already on the board. The directress tells the child that they need to count all of the beads on the board (4). She shows him where to record the answer on the card.

The directress reminds the child to leave the beads on the board and lets him a turn with the next operation. Once all of the sums have been completed, she shows him how to check the answers and how to erase them from the card.

What the child learns by working with the Multiplication Board?

This activity shows the child different ways of doing multiplication, reinforces multiplication, and the multiplication (x) and equals (=) signs, as well as this activity gives the child an understanding of the process of multiplication and to memorise the multiplication tables.

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.