What is Montessori “Cards and Counters”?

Vito is 34 months.

“Cards and Counters” is a Montessori math activity that introduces the child to the units of quantity.  This is to reinforce the sequence in numbers (one to ten) and to give the child a visual experience of quantity.

Vito loves to count.  He counts pictures, objects and anything that interests him. So for his preschool math, I decided to give him a jumpstart on cards and counters. Take a look at the different ways we explore counting using Autumn-themed objects.

This activity requires the following:

• number cards
• counters

We are using the number cards in our September Preschool Math Unit and for the counters, we’re using real nuts, pumpkin table scatters and fake fall leaves (you can use real ones of course!).

Here’s Vito at work, counting 1 to 4. My main goal is practice 1 to 3 but he keeps asking for more.  Before this picture was taken, I was giving him the presentation of the work.  It is important that as parents we should show the child how it’s being done first before we allow them to independently try out the activity.

Here’s another version of Cards and Counters wherein, you place the counters side by side and in the middle to teach the child the concept of odd and even numbers.  Right now, we’re not doing that.  As I said, our activity as of the moment focuses on counting alone and an understanding of quantity (which is more or less). 

So after presenting the two activities, Vito would attempt to reconstruct it.  Currently, he’s doing good with his 1:1 correspondence counting up to three.  From four, he counts faster than placing the counters in the cards.  This is fine, whenever he do this I encouraged him if we could do it again but this time, I count with him to guide his placement of counters.

I am quite surprised that Vito is into this because Mavi never liked counting.  Vito keeps asking for more once we reach five but we just have to stop there.  More counting activities in the days to come so stay tuned!

Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google Plus, Instagram or Twitter for updates!  More learning materials at Pinay Homeschooler Shop.

Pin this for later!