Spindle Box

[1]

[2]

Product ID:

M303

Recommended Age:

18-30 Months [3]

Catalog:

Mathematics [4]

$69.99

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Product Description

Spindle box exercise in Montessori mathematics consists of a 2 wooden boxes with with 5 compartments each where at the back of each compartment, the symbols 0 to 9 are painted in black. This set also consists a container with 45 spindles and a container with 8 ribbons or elastic/ rubber bands. In this activity, the concrete materials is associated with abstract symbols and by working with this activity, the child gets a clear perception of relationship between quantities and symbols.

Purpose

To help the child understand that the spindles clarify the idea that the symbols represent a certain quantity of separate objects.
To introduce the child to the concept of zero and its symbol.
To reinforce the natural sequence of the numerals for the child's understanding.
To reinforce the idea that there are no other symbols other than symbols from 0 to 9.
To show the child concept of gradation and sequencing of numbers.
To help the child associate the corresponding quantities with the numerals.

Exercise

Demonstrate the exercise by bringing the complete spindle box set and placing it on the mat.
Invite the children to sit around you as you begin to demonstrate the exercise.
Introduce the exercise to the children and tell them that the exercise's is called spindle box exercise.
Begin the exercise by pointing out and showing them the numbers printed on the compartments.
Tell them that each number on the compartment is meant for you to put that many spindles in the compartments.
Start by pointing out the number 1 and have the child read it out.
As the child says it correctly, tell the child to pick up one spindle from the box and put that one spindle in the compartment 1.
Similarly, continue to the number 2. Tell the child to read out the number you are pointing at.
Put two spindles in the number 2 compartment and proceed further in the sequence.
Continue the exercise until you complete all the 9 compartments.
Now, proceed to ask the children what goes in there, pointing out to the compartment with 0 on it.
Tell the children that this is called zero and that nothing goes in the compartment and emphasize on the concept of null set during your information to the children.
Now, tell the children to take out the two spindles from compartment 2 and tie them with a ribbon or a rubber band and place them back in the compartment.
Similarly, ask the child to do the activity with other numbered compartments as well.
As all the compartments are finished and the spindles in the compartments tied, proceed to the next activity, which is to take out the spindles and placing them back in the container.
Start with compartment 1 by picking up the spindle and place it in the container.
Similarly, proceed to the compartment 2. Pick up the two spindles, remove the ribbon/ rubber band and place the two spindles back in the container.
Tell the children they must have to follow this step of removing the ribbon/ rubber band and then placing the spindles in the container.
Make sure that all the spindles are back in the container and tell the children to make sure that the compartments are empty.
Tell the children to close the boxes and place them back in the shelf or wherever they are kept.

Related Exercises

This activity is a reinforcement of the previous activity i.e number rods and cards. The child should have mastered number rods and cards to work with this activity. If the child is not able to associate the symbols to the spindles that means the child has not understood the concept. It is recommended to go back to the previous activity in such a case.

Cards and counters is the activity which reinforces on spindle box.

Product Maintenance