Spindle Box - MONTESSORI Mathematic Lesson

Spindle Box. Numbers One to Ten (First Group)
Prerequisite :
Sand Paper Numbers
Number Rods

Material:
One box divided into 10 compartments or two boxes divided into 5 compartments each. The numbers 0 to 9 are printed on the back of each compartment in sequence.
A basket with forty-five spindles
A basket with eight ribbons/ties
https://www.nienhuis.com/us/en/spindl...

Presentation:
Invite the child
Introduce the activity, introduce the several materials to bring
Show him how to carry the material (The spindle box, the basket with spindles and the basket with ribbons)
Have the child bring the material to the table
Sit down
Review the numbers on the box randomly with the child (except zero)
Point number 1, ask what number is it? the child say 1
Pick 1 spindle from the basket and place it on your palm, holding it like a feast and count/ say: “one”
Then place it on the corresponding compartment in the box
Point to number 2, ask what number? The child say 2
Pick two spindles, one at the time place on your palm and hold it
Put them on the table
Take a ribbon, lay it out on the table
Place the spindles on top in the middle of the ribbon
Tie the spindles together
Place it in the corresponding compartment
Do the same up to number 4 and invite the child to do on his own with number 5,6,7,8,9,10
Offer the child help when tying the spindle
When the child finish
Point to compartment 0, say this is zero, there is nothing there
Show that the compartment is empty
Pause
Show the child to put them away
Untie the spindles starting from 9. Place the spindle in the basket one by one
Note:
If the child cannot tie, he can do it without tying but he definitely has to put the spindles in his hand and hold it (inside the palm of his hands) so he can feel the difference between 1 spindle and many spindles.
After this presentation, introduce 0 on sand paper numbers




Following Exercise
The game of 0

Invite a group that already know their numbers
Give different commands with actions
For example: Johny clap 5 times, Linda jump 2 times
Finally ask a child to do something 0 times
And ask: why you not doing anything?
The answers : Because zero is nothing

Control of Error:
If the counting has been incorrect, at the end there would be insufficient numbers of spindles in the compartments or some remaining in the basket

Direct Purpose:
The Spindle clarify the idea that symbols represent a certain quantity of the separate object
The spindles make it more evident that each numeral made up of single units
To introduce the concept of 0 and its symbol
To reinforce the natural sequence of numerals

Indirect Purpose:
To reinforce the idea that no other symbols than 0 to 9 in mathematics

Age:
3 1/2, 4