Coloured Bead Stairs: 10 Sets of Glass Beads 1-10

Price

€95.71

Final price - seller not VAT-registered

Shipping & Delivery

In Stock · 2-3 days

Quantity

Age Range3-6 Years

MaterialPremium quality glass

DimensionsApprox. 30 × 10 × 20 cm

CertificationAMI Approved

About

Selected for quality and educational value, this set of 10 Colored Bead Stairs features lustrous glass beads strung on durable metal wire, creating bars from 1 to 10 beads in Montessori's traditional color sequence. The beads are beautifully presented in a handcrafted wooden storage box with individual compartments, supporting the child's development of number concepts through sensorial exploration.

“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”

- Maria MontessoriThe Discovery of the Child

AMI ApprovedOfficial Nienhuis

Free ShippingSee shipping rates

2-Year WarrantyQuality guaranteed

Everything You Need

10 sets of colored bead barsEach set contains bars 1-10

Wooden storage boxWith compartmentalized interior

The Montessori Method

The Colored Bead Stairs embody Dr. Montessori's principle of indirect preparation for mathematics through sensorial experience. This material bridges the sensorial and mathematical areas, allowing children to internalize quantity through color association before formal number work begins. The glass beads provide weight and texture that enhance the child's sensorial impression of quantity - one red bead feels distinctly different from ten golden beads. Through repeated handling and visual discrimination, children build a concrete, embodied understanding of numerical relationships. The beauty and precision of the glass beads inspire repetition and concentration, while the color coding creates a visual memory that supports later work with the golden bead material and linear counting. This material demonstrates Montessori's genius in recognizing that mathematical abstraction must be built upon a foundation of concrete, sensorial experiences.

✹Visual discrimination of quantities from 1-10 through color association✹Tactile understanding of increasing quantity through weight and length✹Preparation for skip counting and multiplication through bead groupings✹Development of one-to-one correspondence through counting individual beads✹Foundation for understanding the decimal system through base-ten structure

Coloured Bead Stairs: 10 Sets of Glass Beads 1-10 - Child learning

AMI Approved

Activity Guide

Step by Step to Mastery

6 steps to mastery

Handle the beads gently, demonstrating care for the material

Use slow, deliberate movements to allow the child to absorb the process

Emphasize the increasing length with your hand gesture

Pause between bars to allow the child to predict the next number

This movement prepares for understanding numerical relationships

Observe without correcting - errors are part of the learning process

Browse steps

Handle the beads gently, demonstrating care for the material

Use slow, deliberate movements to allow the child to absorb the process

Emphasize the increasing length with your hand gesture

Pause between bars to allow the child to predict the next number

This movement prepares for understanding numerical relationships

Observe without correcting - errors are part of the learning process

Developmental Benefits

Why Educators Choose This

Mathematical Foundation

Builds concrete understanding of quantities 1-10 through visual and tactile exploration.

Sensorial Discrimination

Develops visual perception through color recognition and length comparison of bead bars.

Preparation for Mathematics

Establishes the foundation for skip counting, multiplication, and the decimal system.

Store one set at child-height for independent work, keep others for group activities or when beads are lost

Use the bead stairs for three-period lessons on number names before introducing written numerals

Connect this work to the hundred chain and thousand chain for advanced students showing readiness

Pro Tip

“Present this material after the child has worked extensively with color tablets and can discriminate colors accurately”

The Gold Standard in Montessori

Every Child Is a Little Creator

Heritage

Since 1929

Brands used by

schools worldwide

European brands

AMI

Endorsed

Have Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this material.

Contact Our Experts

What is the purpose of having 10 sets of colored bead stairs?

Having 10 complete sets allows multiple children to work simultaneously with the material, supports parallel activities like building the bead square, and enables extensive mathematical explorations including skip counting, multiplication concepts, and commutative properties. This quantity ensures adequate materials for a full classroom environment.

How do glass beads differ from plastic beads in the learning experience?

Glass beads provide superior sensorial feedback through their weight, smooth texture, and temperature response. They offer a more refined tactile experience that enhances concentration and creates a stronger sensory impression of quantity. The lustrous quality of glass also makes the material more aesthetically appealing, naturally drawing children to work with them.

What mathematical concepts can children explore with colored bead stairs?

Children develop understanding of quantities 1-10, one-to-one correspondence, number sequence, and visual discrimination of length. The material prepares for addition, subtraction, skip counting, square numbers, and multiplication tables. It bridges concrete counting with abstract number concepts through color association and physical manipulation.

How should the colored bead stairs be introduced to a 3-year-old?

Begin by inviting the child to carry the box carefully to a mat. Start with a three-period lesson using bars 1, 2, and 3. Allow sensorial exploration of weight and length differences. Progress gradually to building the stair formation, always emphasizing precise handling and proper storage. Match the pace to the child's readiness and interest.

What activities can be done with multiple sets of bead stairs?

Multiple sets enable building the decanomial square, creating addition and multiplication layouts, exploring number patterns, constructing geometric shapes, and conducting group lessons. Children can also engage in parallel work, build multiple staircases for comparison, or create artistic patterns while reinforcing mathematical relationships.

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