Hollow Number Shapes: US Version
Hollow number shapes in the US version, an additional exercise for preparing a child to write numerals. The idea is Maria Montessori's own and she sets it out in The Discovery Of The Child. Numerals are harder to write than letters for one reason nobody mentions: there are only ten of them, so a child gets far less practice at each, and several are near mirrors of one another. Extra tracing is the answer. Wood with sandpaper and paint, for ages 3 to 6.
“Education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
The Hollow Number Shapes introduce mathematical symbols through the fingertips, engaging the tactile sense that young children naturally use to explore their world.
- Develops correct number formation through tactile tracing
- Builds muscle memory for writing numerals 0-9
- Strengthens visual recognition of number symbols
- Prepares hand muscles for pencil grip and writing
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By tracing raised sandpaper numerals, children absorb the shape and direction of each number through muscle memory before they attempt writing with a pencil. The rough texture of sandpaper against smooth wood creates a sensory contrast that helps the brain register and remember each numeral's unique form. This US version presents numbers in the style commonly used in American schools, ensuring consistency between classroom and home learning. The green background provides visual isolation for each sandpaper number, allowing children to focus completely on one symbol at a time. Through repeated tracing of these sandpaper surfaces, children build the hand strength and control needed for future writing while simultaneously developing their mathematical mind through direct contact with numerical symbols.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the number boards in sequence on a mat. Have a small tray with sand or salt nearby for additional tracing practice.
- 1
Introduce three numbers at a time using the three-period lesson
Start with 1, 2, and 3 as these have the simplest formations - 2
Demonstrate tracing with your index and middle fingers together, moving in the correct formation direction
Trace slowly and deliberately, letting the child see the complete movement - 3
Invite the child to trace while naming the number aloud
If they trace incorrectly, the rough texture guides them back to the smooth wood - 4
Practice tracing in sand or salt after mastering the board
This transfers the movement from textured surface to free formation - 5
Match the sandpaper numbers with quantity using counters or number rods
This connects the abstract symbol to concrete understanding
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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