Subtraction Strip Board (Nienhuis)
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
A board for the subtraction tables from one to eighteen, worked with natural wooden strips whose lengths match the squares. One strip covers the part being taken away and a second marks where to read the answer, so the child is not remembering a fact but constructing it and seeing the result sit in the row. Doing every combination this way is what turns the tables from something recited into something a child could rebuild if they forgot. Wood with laminated paper, for ages 3 to 6.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”
The Subtraction Strip Board transforms abstract subtraction concepts into tangible experiences through color-coded wooden strips positioned on a numbered grid.
- Master subtraction facts from 1-18 through repeated manipulation
- Recognize patterns in subtraction equations and inverse relationships
- Develop systematic problem-solving approaches
- Build concentration through focused strip placement
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Each strip's length physically represents a quantity, allowing children to see and touch the process of taking away. The grid's design from 1-18 enables systematic exploration of subtraction equations, while the wooden strips' varied lengths create visual patterns that reveal mathematical relationships. By manipulating these strips to solve equations, children internalize subtraction facts through repetition and discovery rather than memorization. The board's horizontal layout mirrors the left-to-right progression of mathematical notation, preparing children for written arithmetic. This material bridges the gap between concrete counting activities and abstract number operations, providing the sensorial foundation essential for mathematical abstraction in the elementary years.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the Subtraction Strip Board on a mat with the blue and red strip boxes arranged by size. Position the blank equation cards and pencil to the right.
- 1
Select an equation card (e.g., 9-4). Place the blue 9-strip at the board's left edge
Always start with the minuend (first number) using blue strips - 2
Count 4 spaces from the right end of the blue strip and place the red 4-strip
Red strips always represent the subtrahend (number being subtracted) - 3
Read the answer where the red strip begins on the number line
Point to each number while counting to reinforce one-to-one correspondence - 4
Record the complete equation (9-4=5) on paper
Writing reinforces the visual discovery and builds equation literacy - 5
Return strips to their boxes and select a new equation
Maintaining order in the strip boxes develops organizational skills
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 Strip Board (Nienhuis)
