Colored Bead Bars: Constructing a Product

Age
6-9.

Materials

 * Box of colored bead bars 1-10Chart I

Presentation

 * 1) Directress writes a product on a piece of paper and places it on the table (it will be the heading).
 * 2) Directress says to the child: "Let's see how many ways we can make 12? Shall we try with one?"
 * 3) The child should see that any number can be made using one, therefore it will be omitted for this game.
 * 4) Beginning with two, the child tries to make 12 by repeating 2, skip counting as he takes out the bars.
 * 5) Stopping at 12, he finds that 2 taken six times equal 12.
 * 6) These bars are placed in a column under the strip. the child writes the combination in his notebook.
 * 7) 12 = 2 x 6, which is read 12 is constructed by taking 2, 6 times.
 * 8) Go on trying with 3 and 4 following the same steps.
 * 9) When the child tries with 5, he will find that 15 is greater than 12, so the bead bars are put back in the box.
 * 10) Go on with 6.
 * 11) Trying with 7, the child finds that it won't work, because at the second bar we've already exceeded 12. Thus we must stop at 6.

Control Of Error
The child looks on Chart I, finds the combinations he has made, and the absence of 12 in the 5 column, 7 column and so on.

Purpose
Direct Aim:


 * To help the child with the memorization of multiplication.

Indirect Aims:


 * Preparation for memorization of division
 * Preparation for decomposition into prime factors
 * Preparation for the study of multiples