The Stamp Game: Static addition (without change)

What materials are needed for this activity?

For this activity, the directress uses the Stamp game, Expanded notation cards, Green, red, and blue markers, and a cloth.

How Static addition is done with the Stamp game?

The directress begins by introducing the expanded notation card to the child and reminding him about the (+) sign. She reads the sum to the child, for example, (3423+3212). The directress takes out the unit stamps for the first addend, placing them vertically down the right-hand side of the mat. She then sets out the tens to the left of the units, followed by the hundreds and thousands.

The child is encouraged to do the same with the second addend, he makes sure the stamps are slightly below the first addend. She reminds the child that they will be adding the stamps together, pointing to the (+) sign.

The directress starts to add the units first by bringing the top units down to the others, and counting them all together (5) She shows the child how to record the answer with the green marker in the unit column.

The child is encouraged to follow the same process with the tens, hundreds, and thousands, recording the answers in the appropriate column each time, using the correct coloured marker. Once the operation is complete, the directress shows the child how to check the answer.

The directress starts with easy operations, slowly progressing to more difficult ones, using higher hierarchies.

What does the child learn by doing static addition with the stamp game?

This activity reinforces addition and the (+) sign, it helps the child have a better understanding of the process of addition using more abstract materials, as well as this activity introduces expanded notation to the child.

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.