The red Montessori bars

I would like to start this blog commenting on how the Montessori methodology works on the mathematics area of ​​the measure.

Montessori, as we already know, is a methodology that works completely with physical material which allows children to be constantly in touch with concrete mathematics and not abstract as is done in traditional methodology.

It is true that the material is quite limited, in the sense that it is always the same and does not change to allow the child perspectives different from the measure in reality, but can be applied in class so that this is the beginning of the comprehension of the measure for children, which can then be extrapolated to any area of ​​real life, leaving behind the abstract calculations and the imaginary measures of traditional school mathematics.

We are talking about 10 bars with different steps, from 10 cm to 1 meter. The difference in length between each bar is 10 cm. 

They are used from 3 years to 7 or 8 years and some activities that are proposed are the following:

·      The main task is to learn to order the bars from least to highest or highest to lowest, learning manipulatively that each of the bars will have a different measure, being able to apply this with different objects of daily life. Without any rule or number written on the bars, children learn to differentiate lengths through sight and guesswork.

·      On the other hand, when they are more advanced in this material, they can begin to compare the bars with each other and realize that the 1 meter bar is composed of 10 bars of 10 cm, for example. Making such comparisons encourages mental calculation and understanding of the measurements in the physical world.

In an ordinary class of an ordinary school, this material can also be applied with children accompanied by different dynamics which is highly recommended.