Counting the Chains of 100 and 1,000

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MATERIAL:

• 1 gold unit bead
• 1 ten bar
• 1 chain made by linking 10 ten bars together
• 1 chain made by linking 10 hundred chains together
• A green floor mat

• Small number cards, one for every tenth bead, for use when counting the chains of 100 and 1000.  The tens are written in blue, the hundreds in red, and the thousands in green.  The cards on which two numerals are written could be one and one half inches. The cards on which three numerals are written could be two inches.  The cards on which four numerals are written could be two and one half inches.  The ends of the cards on the right would be pointed.

PURPOSE:

To give children an understanding of the relative value of 1, 10, 100, and 1000 in linear form

Optional practice in counting

EXERCISE:

The mat is spread on the floor.  The unit, the ten bar, the hundred and thousand chains are laid out parallel to each other.  The thousand chain is far too long for the mat and extends right down the classroom.  Its length is most impressive.  The children gain an understanding of the relative value of the quantities.  Most children enjoy counting when they first realize their ability to do so.  These children will want to count the chains.  They may like to have the small number cards to place against every tenth bead of the hundred chain and the thousand chain.  If a child does not wish to use the number cards when counting the chains, he or she does not need to do so.