Colored Bead Bars: Construction of a Square

Age
6-9.

Materials

 * Box of colored bead bars 1-10
 * One each of the squares 1-10

Presentation

 * 1) Directress says to the child; "Let's try to multiply all of the numbers by themselves".
 * 2) During this activity the child writes the equations as he goes along.
 * 3) He may also draw this on graph paper as he progresses or when he is finished.
 * 4) Start with one. directress says: "One taken one time is one".
 * 5) Put out one bead.
 * 6) Write down 1 x 1 = 1.
 * 7) Directress says; "Two taken two times is four."
 * 8) Place two 2- bars in a column next to one.
 * 9) Write down 2 x 2 = 4.
 * 10) Continue in this manner until 10 x 10, resulting in 9 columns in a row.
 * 11) If the child doesn't remember a combination he may check Chart I.
 * 12) Directress says; "We have multiplied all the numbers by themselves. What have we formed? Squares. Because these are only bars, we can substitute them with the real squares".
 * 13) "With one, there is no square because 1 x 1 is just 1".
 * 14) Replace the 2 bars of 2 with the 2 square and so one up to 10.

Purpose
Direct Aim:


 * To help the child in the memorization of multiplication.
 * To help the child in the realization that a number taken by itself makes a square.

Indirect Aim:


 * Preparation for the powers of numbers.