Aidan smiled when he saw Brendan using the muliplication mat. "Oh! You got out that thing-a-ma-jiggie!" Yes, indeedy. That OLD thingamajiggie is an idea I altered from the basic multiplication board in the Hainstock book. It is cut from an inverted bathmat (the kind with lots of tiny suction cups) which has not fared well in storage across the ocean. The numbers 1-10 are labeled across the top. You can easily drop pony beads or beans across the rows of cups to illustrate groups of numbers.
(You can also use the bath mats to make Hundred Boards. Just use a fine tip sharpie and write the numbers on the cups.)
Doesn't take long before you transition into a times table chart like this. It is good to have some hands on work with the beads first so they can really visualize what is happening before they memorize the chart.
You can, of course use a printable, but when you realize just how far a pony bead can travel, and at what remarkable rates of speed, you become highly motivated to corral them. <g>
PS - you can print out multiplication problems here. We are using inexpensive math workbooks and hopping around some for convenience.
Awesomeness! I just pinned this. Thanks for sharing, Kim!
Posted by: Kelly | February 04, 2012 at 04:38 AM
Please be sure to add this to the Homemade Materials Collaboration over at my blog!
Posted by: My Boys' Teacher | February 10, 2012 at 12:22 AM
That is awesome! I love this idea! I want to go out and shop for supplies right now, but unfortunately I should be in bed right now. LOL! Thank you for sharing with us all. I found your website through Montessori Printshop.
Tracey
Posted by: Tracey M. | February 10, 2012 at 09:31 AM
Brilliant! It's not only functional, but beautiful as well. The color is close to the original wood, and the red beads make it look it was designed to be used this way. I'm pinning it!
Posted by: Rachel Speal | February 10, 2012 at 10:30 AM
I posted earlier about wanting to actually create a multiplication bead board. Thank you for showing us all how you created one. I have been wanting to make or purchase one for quite some time now. I was inspired and motivated to create one myself and we have used it often this week. Here is a link to my post and how we made ours ... it is a little different. The original idea was found at Adventures of Bear and I made it a bit more thematic for the holidays. I hope that doesn't ruin the actual "work" but it didn't seem to affect Alyssa. If anything I think it created a bit more interest because the theme was based on Valentine's Day. Here is the link to our blog where I recently posted our multiplication bead board. Visit us at http://totplay.blogspot.com/2012/02/montessori-multiplication-bead-boards.html. I also pinned your idea!
Thank you again,
Tracey M.
Posted by: Tracey M. | February 21, 2012 at 05:41 PM
Hiya Kim. How do you feel about me pinning this? I used the first image. I'm just cleaning up my pinboards and want to make sure you are okay with my pinning it. :)
Posted by: Sarah | March 19, 2012 at 01:51 AM