Formation of Numbers (Large and Small Numeral Cards)

Presentation

1
Lay out cards 2000, 300, 40, and 5 side by side and read each one.
2
Stack them with right edges lined up: 300 on 2000, then 40, then 5. Read '2,345: two thousand three hundred forty-five'.
3
Have the child fetch 2 thousands, 3 hundreds, 4 tens, and 5 units from the bank.
4
Lay the beads out left to right, thousands to units, with the separated cards above each category; then stack the cards again.
5
Reverse: build a bead quantity; the child counts each category and composes the number with cards.
6
Present a number with an empty category, such as 3,052: 'There are no hundreds. The zero shows that place is empty.'
7
Once the large cards are secure, repeat with the small numeral cards, which the child can carry on the tray to the bank.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

Guide says a number aloud; the child builds it with cards and beads.
Two children: one builds a bead quantity, the other finds the cards.
Child writes the number formed on paper.

Control of error

Cards read correctly only when stacked with right edges lined up; a misaligned card leaves extra zeros showing. The beads are recounted against each card.

Ready to move on when the child…

Forms and reads any number to 9,999 with beads and cards
Correctly forms numbers with zero in the tens or hundreds place
Uses the small cards independently at the bank

Guide note

Children often read 2,345 as 'two three four five'. Read the whole number aloud each time and have the child repeat it.