The Napier’s Bones is a mathematical tool that dates back to the 17th century. Invented by the Scottish mathematician John Napier, it’s a clever set of rectangular rods nestled in a frame, and each divided into multiple squares. These strips, also named “bones,” were designed to simplify complex multiplication and division problems, making mathematical calculations more accessible and efficient.
Category Archives: Math
15
Oct
Oct
It is important to learn to classify numbers because it helps us understand the different types of numbers and how they are related to each other. For example, if children are solving a math problem, they need to know what type of number they are working with in order to choose the correct operation.
23
Sep
Sep
Decimal fractions are fractions where the denominators are 10, 100, 1000, and so on. When introduced in the early upper elementary years, children use a similar visual representation they used when learning about place value.
17
Sep
Sep
Graphing is a valuable skill for children to learn and can be introduced as early as late primary years when using our new material, Bar Graph Complete Set! Learning to graph helps children understand data and relationships and can also help them develop their spatial reasoning skills. It does so by showing data using visual representations. Graphs can be used to show how things change over time or to compare different things.
24
Jul
Jul
We are excited to share our new educational Roman numerals material, the Study of Roman Numbers Complete Set. This material set includes an instructional guide, wooden Roman numerals, task cards to learn to convert Arabic numbers to Roman numerals, and a timeline to practice placing labels century by century in both Arabic numbers and Roman numerals.
24
Jul
Jul
The Napier’s Local Arithmetic Board is a tool that can be used to teach multiplication to elementary learners (ages 10-12) in your Montessori classroom. It is a hands-on way to practice mathematical skills, and it can help students develop a better understanding of how multiplication works, and provide a deeper insight into the base 2 system.
06
Jul
Jul
We have created a new set of task cards, Comparing Fractions, to help learners understand and manipulate fractions. Our set consists of 56 cards divided into five sections. Knowing how to compare fractions allows them to determine which bit is larger or smaller and to order them from least to most significant to least. Understanding […]
04
Jun
Jun
In the Montessori system, grades 4-6 are equivalent to the upper elementary level. Therefore, our new set of task cards, The Study of Surface Area, is classified as a 9-12-year-old material. However, basic calculations such as measuring a square or a rectangle can be introduced in the late lower elementary years.
21
May
May
In Montessori classrooms, children can use materials like the colored bead bars and number tiles to physically manipulate the numbers and gain a visual understanding of how they work together. Our Number Bonds Task cards will provide your learners with a problem to solve, along with a visual representation of a number bond. They can be used for review, as a form of self-assessment.
01
May
May
Math can be a challenging subject, especially when it comes to understanding the order of operations. To help learners aged 6 to 9 learn about the order of operations, we developed a new set of Montessori math task cards, Order of Operations: PEMDAS, that introduce the PEMDAS acronym. This blog post explains the benefits of this new material for classroom teachers and parents.