Place Value Working Mat
A mat of 92 by 67 cm for floor work, with the columns of each place value coloured to match the Montessori hierarchy of number, and it rolls up for storage. Large number cards laid out on a table run out of table; laid out on this mat they have room, and the colour under each card tells a child whether the card is where it belongs before anyone checks. The rolling is not a detail either: a mat that has to be folded gets creases exactly where the columns are. Felt and fabric, for ages 3 to 12.
“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”
The Place Value Working Mat creates a concrete foundation for abstract mathematical concepts through its three distinct colored felt sections. Each section of this mat corresponds to a specific place value position, allowing children to physically organize golden bead material or number cards into units, tens, and hundreds. The soft felt surface provides both a tactile boundary and a visual framework that transforms numerical abstraction into sensorial experience.
- Understanding place value concepts through physical organization of materials
- Developing visual discrimination between units, tens, and hundreds
- Building decimal system comprehension through color-coded sections
- Strengthening fine motor control while arranging mathematical materials
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When children lay out quantities on the mat's designated areas, they internalize the base-ten system through repeated movement and visual categorization. The mat's generous workspace accommodates the full range of place value materials, from individual unit beads to thousand cubes, enabling comprehensive decimal system work. This deliberate organization on the felt surface helps children recognize patterns in our number system while building their mathematical mind through hands-on manipulation.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Unroll the Place Value Working Mat on a table or floor space. Ensure the three color sections are clearly visible. Gather golden bead material or number cards to use with the mat.
- 1
Introduce each colored section, demonstrating where units, tens, and hundreds belong
Use consistent language: 'The green section holds our units' - 2
Place unit beads in the appropriate section, counting aloud as you work
Start with small quantities (1-9) before introducing larger numbers - 3
Add ten bars to the tens section, showing how ten units equal one ten
Physically exchange ten loose unit beads for one ten bar - 4
Introduce hundred squares, placing them in the hundreds section
Let children feel the weight difference between units and hundreds - 5
Practice building numbers across all three sections
Begin with numbers like 243 where each place value is distinct
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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