The Montessori Math sequence
Math runs 12 published lessons here, from Number Rods at 3.5 to 5 years to Addition Strip Board at 5 to 7.5 years. They're listed in the order a child meets them, each linked to its full page. We add lessons as each one is written and checked against Montessori's own books, so the list will grow.
Start with Number Rods. If you aren't sure your child is ready for Math, two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
Math lessons in the order a child meets them
| # | Lesson | Age | Before this |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number RodsNumber Rods, Work RugTo learn the names of the quantities one to ten and their sequence, with each quantity held as a single whole. Leads to Golden Beads: Introduction to the Decimal System and Sandpaper Numerals. | 3.5 to 5 years | Brown Stair (Broad Stair) (Sensorial), Red Rods (Long Rods) (Sensorial) |
| 2 | Sandpaper NumeralsSandpaper NumeralsTo learn the shape and the name of each numeral, 0 to 9, by touch and sight together with the spoken name. Leads to Spindle Boxes: Counting 0 to 9. | 3.5 to 5 years | Number Rods, Sandpaper Letters (Language) |
| 3 | Golden Beads: Introduction to the Decimal SystemGolden Bead Material, Work RugTo learn the four names, unit up to thousand, and how their sizes compare. Leads to Stamp Game: Static Addition and Teen Boards (Seguin Board A). | 4 to 5.5 years | Number Rods, Spindle Boxes |
| 4 | Spindle Boxes: Counting 0 to 9Spindle BoxesTo count out the quantity a numeral asks for, 0 to 9, and to meet zero as the numeral for nothing. Leads to Golden Beads: Introduction to the Decimal System and Cards and Counters: Odd and Even. | 4 to 5.5 years | Sandpaper Numerals |
| 5 | Teen Boards (Seguin Board A)Teen Boards, Golden Bead MaterialTo learn the names and numerals 11 to 19, each as one ten and some units. Leads to Short Bead Chains (Squaring Chains) and Tens Boards (Seguin Board B). | 4 to 6 years | Golden Beads |
| 6 | Cards and Counters: Odd and EvenCards and CountersTo show that the child knows the numerals 1 to 10 in order and the quantity each one stands for, without a box or a rod to help. | 4 to 5.5 years | Spindle Boxes |
| 7 | Stamp Game: Static AdditionStamp GameTo add multi-digit numbers without carrying, using the stamp game. Leads to Addition Strip Board. | 4.5 to 7.5 years | Golden Beads |
| 8 | Short Bead Chains (Squaring Chains)Bead Chains (Short Chains and the Hundred Chain)To count to 100 in a line, and then to count by each number up to its square. Leads to Hundred Board. | 4.5 to 6.5 years | Teen Boards (Seguin Board A) |
| 9 | Tens Boards (Seguin Board B)Tens Boards, Golden Bead MaterialTo learn the names and numerals of the tens, 10 to 90, and then every number from 11 to 99. Leads to Hundred Board. | 4.5 to 6.5 years | Teen Boards (Seguin Board A) |
| 10 | Fraction Insets (Fraction Circles)Fraction Insets (Fraction Circles)To see and handle the equal parts of a whole, and to learn their names. | 4.5 to 7 years | Geometric Cabinet (Plane Geometric Insets) (Sensorial) |
| 11 | Hundred BoardHundred BoardTo place the numbers 1 to 100 in order and see the pattern of tens. | 5 to 7 years | Short Bead Chains (Squaring Chains), Tens Boards (Seguin Board B) |
| 12 | Addition Strip BoardAddition Strip BoardTo find and write every addition combination of the numbers 1 to 9, and to begin memorizing them. | 5 to 7.5 years | Stamp Game |
Number Rods also needs Brown Stair (Broad Stair) from Sensorial. Number Rods also needs Red Rods (Long Rods) from Sensorial. Sandpaper Numerals also needs Sandpaper Letters from Language. Fraction Insets (Fraction Circles) also needs Geometric Cabinet (Plane Geometric Insets) from Sensorial.
How the Math lessons depend on each other
Math is one strand of the shelf. To see what sits beside number rods at the same age across all five areas, go to Montessori activities for age 3, or answer six questions for a first shelf of your own.