MA 3.05Short Bead Chains and Squares
The child counts a short chain (for example the 4 chain, 16 beads), labels each multiple with arrow tickets, and matches the chain to its bead square.
Presentation
- 1
Choose the 4 chain. Lay it straight on the mat and place the 4 square beside it.
- 2
Fold the chain to show that it makes the same square, then lay it straight again.
- 3
Count each bead aloud from the start. At the fourth bead, place the ticket 4. Continue: at 8 place ticket 8, then 12 and 16.
- 4
Point to each ticket and read: 'four, eight, twelve, sixteen'.
- 5
Remove the tickets and mix them; the child places them again by counting.
- 6
Have the child count the chain by fours, touching each ticket.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Work through each short chain 1–10.
- Place tickets without counting every bead, by counting bars.
- Record the multiples of each chain on paper.
Control of error
The last ticket must land on the last bead and equal the number of beads in the matching square (16 for the 4 square). In most sets tickets are the same color as the chain's beads.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Labels any short chain correctly
- Counts aloud by 2, 5, and 10 along the matching chains