Volume Box1000 Unit Cubes with Hinged Side
The first photo is the maker's own. The other shots are illustrative.
Inv. no. NIE-019200
- Maker
- Nienhuis Montessori, since 1929
- Approval
- AMI
- Box Construction
- Plywood with natural finish
- Cubes
- Solid wood with smooth finish
- EAN
- 8719924010300
Final price incl. VAT. Free delivery.
Advice, warranty and returns are handled by us.
Why it costs €172.90
Behind the price of the original are things you can check yourself.
AMI approval
The material is approved by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Nienhuis has made Montessori materials since 1929.
A verifiable original
The EAN 8719924010300 is on the box. It is the maker's number, not ours.
Volume Box in a child's hands
A wooden box with a hinged side holding a thousand wooden centimetre cubes. Opening the hinged side and letting the cubes stand as a solid block is the demonstration: a thousand is not an abstraction here, it is a thing a child cannot quite lift. The cubes then break down for building rectangular prisms and reading their volume by counting layers, and the set carries on into the cubing material. Ten by ten by ten stops being a sum and becomes an object on the mat. Plywood with solid wood cubes, for ages 6 to 12.
Mathematical Abstraction
Bridges concrete manipulation to abstract understanding of volume, cubic relationships, and powers of 10 through hands-on exploration.
Spatial Reasoning
Develops three-dimensional thinking and spatial intelligence through building and deconstructing the cubic formation.
Multiplication Concepts
Provides concrete experience of 10³ = 1000, supporting understanding of multiplication and exponential relationships.
How to present it
Place the Volume Box on a large mat with ample space. Ensure all 1000 cubes are present. Have a smaller tray available for organizing counted cubes. Work on a stable surface at the child's height.
- 1Open the hinged side and invite the child to remove one unit cube, examining its dimensions
- 2Build a 10×10 base layer, counting each cube as placed
- 3Continue building upward, creating 10 complete layers of 100 cubes each
- 4Once complete, explore the relationship: 10×10×10 = 1000
- 5Carefully return all cubes to the box, observing how they fit perfectly
3 tips for parents
- At home, explore volume concepts using sugar cubes or small blocks to build smaller cubic formations
- When cooking, discuss cubic measurements and let children fill measuring cups with small uniform items
- Support mathematical vocabulary by using terms like 'cubic', 'volume', and 'three-dimensional' in everyday contexts
If you are not sure it suits your child, we answer in person.
Norbert Kovalčín, founder of Faborino · write to him
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What's in the Box
- Wooden box with lid: With a hinged side
- 1000 unit cubes: Wooden cubes with 1 cm edges
Size and material
| Packaging | 15 × 15 × 14 cm |
| Box Construction | Plywood with natural finish |
| Cubes | Solid wood with smooth finish |
| Recommended Age | 6-12 years |
Care
Wipe with dry or slightly damp cloth; avoid moisture exposure
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact dimensions and materials of the Volume Box?
All 1000 cubes with 1 cm edges together form a block of 10 x 10 x 10 cm. The box with lid is made of birch and beech plywood and has a hinged side, which lets the cubes be shown as a solid block.
How does this material support mathematical understanding beyond counting?
This material introduces concepts of volume, cubic numbers, and place value through concrete manipulation. Children discover that 10³ = 1000 by physically building and deconstructing the cube, understanding powers and exponential growth. It also supports work with decimals, fractions, and algebraic concepts in later elementary years.
What prerequisite materials should children work with before using the Volume Box?
Children should have experience with the Golden Bead Material, particularly the thousand cube, and be comfortable with linear and square number concepts. Prior work with the bead chains, squares, and cubes helps establish the foundation for understanding cubic relationships and volume.
How do children typically progress with this material over time?
Initially, children explore the physical construction of 1000, counting and arranging cubes. They progress to comparing volumes, discovering relationships between linear, square, and cubic measurements. Advanced work includes calculating partial volumes, exploring decimal cubes (0.1³ = 0.001), and connecting to abstract mathematical notation.
What extensions and variations can enhance learning with this material?
Extensions include creating smaller cubes (2³, 3³, 4³) for comparison, using graph paper to record discoveries, measuring and calculating volumes of classroom objects, and connecting to the decimal system through fractional cubes. Children can also explore surface area calculations and net diagrams of cubes.
Product safety
Manufacturer: Nienhuis Montessori, Anders Celsiusstraat 15, 7442 PB Nijverdal, Netherlands
Volume Box