MA 3.08Long Bead Chains 1–9 (Cubing Chains)

1. 1

   Choose a number the child knows from the short chains, such as 4. Lay the long 4 chain straight and place the 4 cube at its end.

2. 2

   Fold the chain into four squares, laid one on top of the next, to show what it holds; then lay it straight again.

3. 3

   Count the first bar bead by bead and place ticket 4. Continue counting beads and placing tickets 8, 12, 16.

4. 4

   At 16, lay a 4 square beside the chain. Continue to 32, 48, and 64, laying a square beside the chain at each.

5. 5

   Stack the four squares beside the cube: 'Four squares make the cube. The 4 chain has 64 beads.'

6. 6

   Read the tickets back by fours from 4 to 64.

7. 7

   Remove and mix the tickets; the child places them again by counting.

What catches the child’s eye

• The chain folding into squares that stack into the cube
• The dark blue 9 chain stretching far down the hallway
• The last ticket landing on the last bead

Extensions, easiest to hardest

1. Work through each long chain 1–9; the 10 chain is the thousand chain the child already knows.
2. Place tickets by counting bars instead of beads.
3. Record the multiples of a chain on a long paper strip.