Homemade Montessori Counting Beads

Instead of using the very expensive traditional Montessori gold beads/rods, I decided to make my own beads using natural wooden beads on natural hemp string. I have only gotten as far as beads for 1-10 as seen in the photo. You can find supplies at your local craft store. I tried to tie the knots as close as I could to the beads on each end just so that when you line them up that it is a very clear pattern that the next number is one bead larger, etc. This time I lined them up to look like a Christmas tree for the holiday season.

Counting 1-5 (Age 3)

I presented this using a placemat and wrote 1-5 on cutout cardstock. You can use any type of counting objects. I used unifex cubes. This place mat was great since it has a square pattern on it to keep the cubes in a "box". I let my son count out the cubes himself and line them up under the appropriate box. You can use this activity to help discuss odd/even numbers as well.