Snake Game Montessori: Boosting Addition and Subtraction Skills

The Montessori Snake Game is pivotal in fostering children’s development of addition and subtraction skills. Through a hands-on and interactive approach, this educational game engages children in a meaningful exploration of mathematical concepts. By introducing the fundamental principles of arithmetic in a visual and engaging manner, the Snake Game plays a crucial role in laying the foundation for a solid understanding of addition and subtraction. Join us as we delve into the enriching world of Montessori education and the transformative impact of the Snake Game on young learners.

Snake Game Montessori: What Is It?

The Montessori Snake Game is a captivating math activity designed for primary school children. It serves as a hands-on approach to teaching addition and subtraction concepts in a visual and interactive manner.

In the Snake Game, children are presented with equations and are tasked with building a “snake” using Colored Bead Bars to represent numbers. Through this process, they engage in additional exercises by making exchanges to arrive at the correct total. This hands-on manipulation of materials helps children grasp the foundational principles of addition in a tangible way.

Similarly, the Snake Game extends to subtraction through the Negative Snake Game variant. Children work on pre-written subtraction equations, constructing snakes with a combination of Colored Beads and grey negative bead bars. Children develop a concrete understanding of subtraction concepts by subtracting and making exchanges, further enhancing their math skills through this engaging activity.

When Is the Snake Game Introduced to The Child?

The Montessori approach introduces the Addition Snake Game to children during the early part of their third year in a primary program, typically around the age of 5. Following this introduction, the Subtraction Snake Game is presented later in the year, allowing for a gradual progression in math activities between the two.

The purpose of introducing the Montessori Snake Game at this stage is to provide children with tangible, hands-on experience in working with concrete representations of numbers. It also allows them to practice the memorization of combinations of ten, enhancing their understanding of number relationships and arithmetic operations.

Aims of the Snake Game Montessori

• The Montessori Snake Game aims to enhance children’s memorization of addition combinations and subtraction facts, providing a hands-on approach for them to practice addition with combinations of 10 and subtraction with minuends of 10 or less. Through these activities, children develop a solid foundation in arithmetic and numerical relationships, fostering mathematical proficiency.
• The indirect aims of the Montessori Snake Game include preparing children for advanced mathematical concepts such as multiplication, division, negative numbers, and algebra. Additionally, the game offers practice in making exchanges, enables children to sensorially experience addition and subtraction, and aids in understanding equivalents, laying the groundwork for more complex mathematical operations.
• The control of error in the Snake Game lies in the child’s ability to count accurately and make correct exchanges. By exchanging the Snake Game Bead Bars for 10-bars of the Golden Bead material and subsequently exchanging the remaining Snake Game Bead Bars with Colored Bead Bars, children can self-monitor and correct any errors in their calculations, promoting independent learning and mastery of mathematical concepts.
• Points of interest in the Montessori Snake Game include the process of constructing the snake using the bead bars, engaging in exchange activities, and counting back the bead bars, particularly in subtraction scenarios. Children also work with the indicator to track their progress and reinforce their understanding of addition and subtraction concepts through a visual and tactile approach, enhancing their mathematical skills and confidence.

Materials Needed for Addition and Subtraction Snake Games

• Felt (in any color)
• Subtraction Snake Game Bead Bars
• Addition Snake Game Bead Bars

For the Addition and Subtraction Snake Games, you can use the same bead material if you prefer. However, it is important to note that the Subtraction Snake Game requires the additional use of grey bead bars along with the other three boxes of bead bars. If you are considering purchasing a single set of materials for both operations, it is recommended that you invest in the Subtraction Snake Game Material.

To ensure a focused and effective learning experience, it is advisable to store the grey beads separately until your child is ready for the subtraction presentation. This will help eliminate distractions during the addition presentation and allow for a seamless transition when introducing subtraction concepts.

It is also worth mentioning that caregivers and teachers should practice the Snake Game on their own before introducing it to a child. Familiarizing yourself with the materials and the process will enable you to confidently guide the child through the activities.

Presenting the Montessori Addition Snake Game

Here are the steps to effectively present the Montessori Addition Snake Game to a child:

1. Begin by inviting the child to bring the Addition Snake Game to a designated table for the activity.
2. Lay the felt on the table and arrange the boxes of bead bars in the following order from left to right: black and white bars, Colored bed bars, and Golden 10-bars.
3. Place the indicator near the black and white bars to prepare for the demonstration.
4. Demonstrate to the child how to use the black and white bars to build a stair at the top left corner of the felt, explaining their function as placeholders and remainders if needed.
5. Encourage the child to lay out the Colored Bead Bars in the shape of a snake, following the equation provided to determine which bars are needed.
6. Guide the child in counting the beads in groups of ten as they lay out the bars from left to right.
7. Introduce the concept of using the indicator to keep track of counting, inserting it after every 10th bead and asking the child to count the beads following the indicator.
8. Help the child verbalize the total count, such as “Ten and two,” after counting the number of beads after the 10th bead.
9. Utilize the Golden 10-bar and black bead bars to represent any remainders, placing them horizontally above the area of the snake being worked on.
10. Instruct the child to replace the Colored Bead Bars with the Golden 10-bar and black bar and continue counting until the golden snake is constructed.
11. Guide the child to figure out the total number of beads in the snake by counting the Golden 10 bars and adding the total of the black and white bead bars onto it.
12. Show the child how to verify their work by counting the beads returned to the black box.
13. Encourage the child to continue practicing with more equations or to return each set of bead bars to their proper boxes.

Extension Activities for Addition Snake Game

Here are some extension activities to enhance and expand the learning experience with the Addition Snake Game:

• Writing Equations: Lay out the Colored Bead Bars and encourage the child to write the equation on a slip of paper, then solve it by playing the Addition Snake Game. After completing the game, have the child record the sum. Additionally, invite the child to record the equation in multiples of 10 with a remainder if there is one. For example, after writing 7+9+2+5=23, they can write 10+10+3=23.
• Control of Error in the Montessori Addition Snake Game (Checking The Work)

• After transforming the snake to gold, ask the child to arrange the Golden 10-bars and the black and white bead bar, if applicable, vertically to the left side of the felt mat.
• Then, guide the child to arrange the Colored Bead Bars used in the game vertically and to the right side of the mat, in order from largest to smallest.
• Place one Golden 10-bar horizontally in the middle of the felt.
• Instruct the child to use the Colored Bead Bars to make chains of 10 and place them horizontally to the right of the Golden 10-bar. For example, pair an eight-bead bar with a two-bead bar and place them to the right of the Golden 10-bar.
• Encourage the child to make exchanges as needed until there are no more possible combinations to make 10.
• Guide the child to compare the quantities of the Golden 10-bars with the “10-bars” they constructed using Colored Bead Bars to determine if they are the same.

Presenting the Montessori Subtraction Snake Game

Here are the steps to effectively present the Montessori Subtraction Snake Game to a child:

1. Invite the child to bring the Subtraction Snake Game tray to a designated table.
2. Lay the felt on the table and arrange the boxes of bead bars in the following order from left to right: black and white bars, Colored Bead Bars, grey negative bead bars, and Golden 10-bars.
3. Guide the child to build a stair with the black and white bead bars and place the indicator below it.
4. Encourage the child to create a snake using the Colored Bead Bars and grey negative bead bars, following the provided equation and understanding that the grey bead bars represent quantities to be subtracted.
5. Instruct the child to count the beads with the help of the indicator and make exchanges as needed, just as with the Addition Snake Game.
6. When the child reaches a grey negative bead bar, invite them to stop counting and explain that these beads represent the quantity to be subtracted.
7. Help the child to count the number of beads on the grey negative bead bar to determine its value.
8. Demonstrate to the child how to subtract the value of the grey negative bead bar from the snake by counting six beads (or whatever the value) from right to left, starting at the last bead in the Colored Bead Bar before the grey bead bar. Remove the necessary Colored Bead Bars, place them in the black box, and exchange with the black and white bead bars as needed.
9. Assist the child in reconnecting the snake and continue the process until the snake is transformed to golden.
10. Encourage the child to figure out the total number of beads in the snake by counting the Golden 10 bars and adding the total of the black and white bead bars onto it.
11. Show the child how to check their work using the black and white bead bars to recreate the original snake and verify that the beads match up with the original snake.
12. Encourage the child to practice with more equations or return each set of bead bars to their proper boxes.

Extension Activities for Subtraction Snake Game

Here are some extension activities to deepen the learning experience with the Subtraction Snake Game:

• Writing Equations: Lay out the Colored Bead Bars and grey negative bead bars, and encourage the child to write the equation on a slip of paper, then solve it by playing the Subtraction Snake Game. After completing the game, have them record the answer. Similarly to the Addition Snake Game extension activity, the child can record the equation using multiples of 10.
• Control of Error in the Montessori Subtraction Snake Game

• After the child has completed transforming the snake into gold, guide them to place the Golden 10-bars and black and white bead bars vertically on the left side of the felt mat.
• Instruct the child to arrange the grey bead bars vertically on the right side, from largest to smallest, and then place the colored bead bars next to them in the same order.
• Demonstrate the child to place the largest grey bead bar horizontally in the center, followed by a Colored Bead Bar of the same quantity on the right.
• Guide the child in making exchanges when necessary and assist them in returning the grey and colored beads to the black box as matches are made.
• Encourage the child to match the Golden 10-bars and black and white bead bars to the Colored Bead Bars, similar to the process in the Addition Snake Game. Correct matching indicates successful completion of the activity.

Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, the Montessori Snake Game has proven to be an effective tool in enhancing children’s addition and subtraction skills through hands-on learning and exploration. By engaging children in a fun and interactive way, this manipulative tool fosters a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and encourages independent problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, using manipulative tools like the Snake Game exemplifies the Montessori philosophy of hands-on, experiential learning. This approach not only enhances academic skills but also cultivates a sense of curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young learners. Suppose you are considering a Montessori preschool facility. In that case, Montessori Academy offers a nurturing environment where children can thrive with the guidance of experienced educators and access to a wide range of Montessori materials. Feel free to contact us today to learn more about our program and how we can support your child’s educational journey.