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Beads Before Numbers

The abacus as the oldest hands-eyes-symbols machine: what each bead means, how a full rod hands on a ten, and how to make one from beans and string so the grandparent can teach.

For grown-ups, from what MentalForge teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1The oldest counting machine
  2. Lesson 2A bead is a place
  3. Lesson 3Handing on a ten
At the table · a grandparent or grown-up and a child, 6 or older

Build a bean abacus

You'll need: string or pipe cleaners, dried beans or beads with holes, a cardboard frame or a shoebox lid.

  1. Thread three strings across the box lid: ones on the right, tens in the middle, hundreds on the left. Put nine beads on each.
  2. The grown-up shows a number with beads and the child says it aloud; then swap.
  3. Add two numbers together on the frame, saying each hand-on of a ten out loud.

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →