The Stamp Game: Static division (without change)

How is static division presented with the stamp game?

The directress begins by placing the expanded notation card in front of the child, and explaining how the sum is written. She reminds the child about division, she tells him that division means we share equally.

She read the operation to the child (8628 divided by 2) and reminds him how to form a number with stamps. She then takes out the corresponding amount of units for the dividend from the box and places them vertically to the right-hand side of the mat.

The directress sets out the tens to the left of the units, followed by the hundreds and then the thousands. She ensures to leave enough space on the left of the mat for the skittles when dividing The directress can begin placing the thousand stamps first, moving onto the units as everything with division starts with the thousands)

She tells the child that they need to divide this number by 2, therefore they need to place 2 skittles on the mat. She reminds the child that when we do division we start with the thousands. The directress shows the child how to share out the thousand stamps between the 2 skittles, she ensures to place the thousands on the left-hand of the mat, laying the stamps one below the other.

The directress lets the child share out the hundreds, reminding him to place them to the right of the units, one below the other. The child then shares out the tens to the right of the tens and then finally the units on the far right. She reminds the child that with division, the answer is what one skittle gets (4324) She shows him where to record the answer in the correct coloured marker.

What does the child learn by doing this activity?

The child grasps the process of division using more abstract materials, it reinforces place value in the decimal system, as well as expanded notation.

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.