Subtraction Snake Game: Individual Beads Glass
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
The Subtraction Snake Game with Individual Glass Beads introduces dynamic subtraction through hands-on manipulation of color-coded bead chains. Children exchange positive and negative quantities using glass beads organized in a compartmentalized wooden tray, building concrete understanding of subtraction facts to 18. The tactile glass beads and systematic color-coding support the transition from material to mental mathematical thinking.
“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”
The Subtraction Snake Game with Individual Glass Beads transforms abstract subtraction into a visible, touchable experience through color-coded glass beads that children physically exchange.
- Masters subtraction facts through 18 by physically exchanging glass beads
- Develops understanding of negative numbers through color-coded bead manipulation
- Builds mental calculation skills by predicting exchanges before completing them
- Strengthens number sense through tactile experience with glass bead quantities
Read More
Each glass bead represents a concrete unit, allowing children to see subtraction as the removal of quantities rather than memorized facts. The systematic color-coding of positive and negative beads creates a visual language for mathematical operations, where children witness equations forming through their own hand movements. The compartmentalized wooden tray organizes glass beads by value, enabling children to independently select and exchange quantities while building subtraction facts to 18. Through manipulating these glass beads, children experience the reversibility of mathematical operations - adding negative quantities produces the same result as subtracting positive ones. The tactile quality of glass beads provides sensory feedback that reinforces numerical relationships, making abstract concepts tangible through repeated handling and exchange.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the wooden tray on a mat. Arrange positive beads (colored) in upper compartments by value 1-9. Place negative beads (typically gray/black) in lower compartments. Set out the empty snake tray.
- 1
Create a 'snake' using colored positive beads, laying them end-to-end
Start with simple combinations like 5+3+4 for beginners - 2
Count the first bead bar and exchange it for an equivalent negative bead
Say 'I have 5, I'm taking away 5' while making the exchange - 3
Continue counting and exchanging, replacing positive beads with negative ones
Keep negative beads separate to show what was subtracted - 4
When reaching 10 or more, exchange for a golden ten-bar and continue
This reinforces place value alongside subtraction - 5
Complete the snake, counting remaining positive beads as the answer
Arrange negative beads to show the subtraction equation
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Subtraction Snake Game: Individual Beads Glass
