Stamp Game: Four Operations

Presentation

1
Show each stamp and relate it to the golden beads: 'This stamp says 10. It is worth one ten bar.'
2
Guide writes 1,324. The child forms it with stamps in columns, thousands on the left and units on the right.
3
Addition: form each addend in rows, one below the other, and lay a pencil under them as a line. Push them together below the line, counting from the units and exchanging ten stamps for one of the next category.
4
Multiplication: form the same number as many times as the multiplier, combine, and exchange.
5
Subtraction: form the larger number, remove the smaller starting from the units, exchanging one stamp for ten of the next category down when short.
6
Division: set out skittles for the divisor, share the stamps from the thousands down, exchanging down when a category cannot be shared equally. The answer is what one skittle receives.
7
After each problem, the child records the problem and answer on paper.
8
Present each operation in a separate lesson, in the order addition, multiplication, subtraction, division.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

Problems with exchanging in several categories.
Division by a two-digit divisor using the skittle colors for tens and units (for older children).
Child writes their own problems.

Control of error

Answers are checked in a control booklet. A column with ten or more stamps shows a missed exchange.

Ready to move on when the child…

Completes all four operations with exchanging, working alone
Lays out stamps neatly in columns
Records problems in correct column form

Guide note

Some children lose track of the value because every stamp is the same size. If this happens, return to the golden beads for that operation before continuing.