Montessori Banking Game

1 year ago · Updated 10 months ago

The Montessori Banking Game is a vital component of the Montessori mathematics curriculum, designed to provide children with a practical understanding of basic arithmetic operations, including addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division.

Benefits of Montessori Banking Game

Montessori Principles of Banking Game

How to Present the Banking Game

Montessori Banking Game with golden beads representing 2000, 200, and 20. — The Banking Game uses physical materials to represent numbers and operations, allowing children to grasp complex mathematical concepts in a tactile and visual way.

📏 Range Age: 3.5 - 6 years (activity should be adjusted based on the child's age and skill level).

🧠 Prerequisites: Mathematical Activities (number recognition, basic addition and subtraction), Sensorial Activities (golden beads, number rods), Language Activities (vocabulary related to banking and finance).
🛠️ Enhancement Skills: Cognitive Development (problem solving, logical thinking), Practical Life Skills (responsibility, money management).

Progressive Presentations

Introduction to the Decimal System: Using Montessori materials such as golden beads, children are first introduced to the concept of units, tens, hundreds, and thousands. They learn to recognize and name these categories and associate them with the corresponding quantities.
Formation of Numbers Using Golden Beads: Children practice forming numbers using units, tens, hundreds, and thousands of beads. They learn to read and build numbers from a given set, e.g., creating the number 2431 using 2 thousands, 4 hundreds, 3 tens, and 1 unit.
Simple Addition Using Golden Beads: The basic operations start with addition. Children use the golden beads to perform simple addition exercises, such as adding two numbers within the thousands. They physically move the beads to understand addition concretely.
Dynamic Addition: Moving to dynamic addition where regrouping (carry-over) is necessary, such as adding 5 units to 7 units to make 12 units, teaching them to exchange 10 units for 1 ten.
Introduction to Multiplication: After mastering addition, children are introduced to the concept of multiplication as repeated addition using the same golden beads.
Banker’s Game Introduction: At this stage, children begin the actual "Banking Game" which involves more complex addition and multiplication operations. They act as bankers, using larger numbers and handling exchanges (e.g., exchanging ten tens for one hundred).
Subtraction and Exchange: Children learn subtraction, which might involve changing a higher category bead for 10 of the next lower category if they do not have enough beads in a lower category to subtract.
Dynamic Subtraction with Regrouping: Advanced subtraction exercises that require borrowing from higher categories, ensuring children understand how to handle situations when they need to regroup.
Advanced Multiplication and Division: Eventually, children engage in more complex multiplication and even basic division operations using the beads, applying their knowledge of the decimal system thoroughly.

This article explores the essentials of the Banking Game, its importance in the Montessori method, and effective ways to integrate this educational activity into your child's learning environment at home.

Content

Progressive Presentations

What is the Montessori Banking Game?

Benefits of the Montessori Banking Game

Purpose of the Montessori Banking Game

Direct Aim

Indirect Aim

Control of Error

Point of Interest

How to Present the Banking Game?

Materials
Presentation
Variations & Extentions
Recommendations

References

What is the Montessori Banking Game?

The Montessori Banking Game is an engaging mathematical activity that uses a variety of materials such as number cards, skittles (representing people), and bank money.

The game simulates a banking environment where children act as bankers and customers, facilitating hands-on experience with mathematical concepts and currency management.

This interactive game not only teaches numerical skills but also introduces basic financial literacy to young learners.

Benefits of the Montessori Banking Game

Introducing the Montessori Banking Game into your child's educational routine offers numerous benefits:

🧮 Mathematical Skill Development: Engaging with the Banking Game enhances understanding of basic math operations and the use of abstract numbers in real-life contexts.
💡 Cognitive Growth: The game challenges children to think critically and solve problems, boosting their cognitive development.
💼 Introduction to Financial Concepts: Early exposure to banking and money management fosters financial literacy from a young age.
👥 Social Skills Enhancement: As children take turns playing the role of banker and customer, they learn valuable social and communication skills.
🕗 Improved Concentration: The detailed and involved nature of the game captivates children’s attention, encouraging longer periods of focus and concentration.

Purpose of the Montessori Banking Game

The primary purpose of the Montessori Banking Game is to make abstract mathematical concepts tangible and comprehensible.

By handling real-life materials such as banknotes and coins, children are able to see, touch, and manipulate numerical values, facilitating a deeper understanding of math operations.

Direct Aim

The direct educational objective of the Montessori Banking Game is to teach children the practical application of arithmetic operations in everyday activities, enhancing their mathematical reasoning and accuracy.

Indirect Aim

Indirectly, the Banking Game promotes skills such as patience, precision, and the ability to follow complex sequences of actions, all of which are valuable in academic and everyday contexts.

Control of Error

The structured nature of the game, along with the physical materials used, allows children to self-correct their mathematical errors through immediate feedback from the game's outcomes.

Point of Interest

The dynamic role-play involved in acting as bankers and customers keeps the learning process lively and engaging, maintaining the child's interest and enthusiasm throughout the game.

The game progresses in complexity, starting with simple operations and gradually introducing larger numbers and more complex calculations, accommodating various skill levels and ages.

How to Present the Banking Game?

Materials

Golden Beads: A set of golden beads which includes units, tens (bars of 10 beads), hundreds (squares of 100 beads), and thousands (cubes of 1,000 beads). These beads help children physically manipulate and visually understand the decimal system.
Number Cards: Cards representing numbers 1-9, 10-90, 100-900, and 1,000-9,000. These are used to build numbers in conjunction with the beads.
A Large Mat or Tablecloth: A flat surface covering where children can lay out the beads and number cards, providing a defined workspace.
Trays or Containers: To organize and store the golden beads and number cards neatly, facilitating easy access and management during the activity.
A Record Book or Ledger: For older children to record the transactions they make during the game, introducing basic bookkeeping skills.

The following instructions are montessori presentation of Banking Game - Formation of Numbers Using Golden Bead:

Presentation

Prepare the Environment: Arrange the Montessori materials neatly on the shelf before inviting the children. Ensure the golden beads, number cards, and mats are easily accessible and organized.
Introduce the Activity: Gather a small group of children and explain the purpose of the activity—to learn how to form numbers using golden beads. Emphasize the fun aspect of playing a "banking game."
Demonstrate the Layout: Show the children how to place a large mat on the floor and organize the golden beads and number cards in separate areas on the mat.
Explain the Materials: Introduce each type of bead—units, tens, hundreds, and thousands. Explain their values and how they relate to each other, using simple language.
Choose a Number Card: Randomly pick a number card and display it to the children. For example, the number 2437.
Build the Number: Break down the number on the card (2437) and ask the children to help you find the correct beads:
- 7 units
- 3 tens
- 4 hundreds
- 2 thousands
Assemble the Beads on the Mat: Guide the children in placing the golden beads on the mat according to the number. Start with the thousands, then hundreds, tens, and units.
Review the Number Formation: Once the beads are arranged, review the number with the children to ensure it matches the number card. Discuss how the beads collectively represent the number 2437.
Invite Participation: Allow each child to choose a number card and attempt to form the number with the beads. Provide assistance and gentle guidance as needed.
Practice and Repeat: Encourage the children to practice with different numbers, helping each other and taking turns to reinforce the learning and foster cooperation.
Conclude with a Discussion: End the activity by discussing what the children learned about numbers and the golden beads. Encourage them to share their observations and thoughts.
Clean Up Together: Teach the children the importance of tidying up. Have them help you collect the beads, sort them back into their containers, and return all materials to their proper places on the shelf.

Vocabulary

Golden Beads - "Here are the golden beads."
Units - "These beads represent units."
Tens - "These are tens, formed by ten units together."
Hundreds - "Here we see a hundred, made of ten tens."
Thousands - "This is a thousand, composed of ten hundreds."
Banker - "The banker manages the exchanges."
Skylight - "The skylight helps illuminate the numbers."
Add - "We add beads together to form larger numbers."
Exchange - "Exchanging smaller beads for a larger category simplifies counting."
Count - "Let's count the beads to see what number they form."

Variations & Extentions

Variations

Introduce more complex numbers gradually as children become comfortable with smaller numbers, moving from two-digit to four-digit numbers.
Use different types of counters or colored beads to represent the units, tens, hundreds, and thousands, adding a sensory element to the activity.
Incorporate role-playing elements where children can act as 'bank tellers' and 'customers,' making the game more interactive and engaging.

Extension

Extend the activity to include basic arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction using the golden beads, providing a practical application of the numbers formed.
Challenge the children to form the same number in different ways using different combinations of beads, fostering deeper understanding and flexibility in thinking.
Introduce decimal numbers and the concept of place value beyond thousands, preparing children for more advanced mathematical concepts.

Recommendations

Regularly assess each child’s understanding and comfort with the activity and adjust the difficulty level accordingly to ensure they are challenged but not overwhelmed.
Encourage children to verbalize what they are doing as they place each bead, enhancing their cognitive processing and reinforcing their learning.
Provide consistent positive feedback and encouragement, especially when children attempt to form larger or more complex numbers, to build their confidence and interest in mathematics.

References

The Formation of Man by Maria Montessori (1973). Madras: Theosophical Publishing House. pp. 65-80.
Education for a New World by Maria Montessori (1946). Madras: Kalakshetra Publications. pp. 90-105.
Montessori Life Blog - The Official Blog of the American Montessori Society - American Montessori Society
Education Blog - Rasmussen College

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Hi! I'm Chris Palomino, a B.S. in Psychology, and a mother of a precious one-year-old girl. Over the past eight years, I've been guiding children, particularly those aged 3 to 6 facing developmental and learning challenges, with a special focus on autism and ADHD.

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