I LOVE this game. The kids quickly learn the cuisenaire values, get great sensory discernment, memorize their math facts, and learn to measure in centimeters with their hands!
It's just chutes and ladders. The print out you see is from this free book. You could also use a regular Chutes and Ladders board.
Instead of using a spinner, you draw rods out of the bag. Yes, that IS a bag for crackers. My pretty canvas bag hadn't come in the mail yet.
You may have to set a time limit on how long someone gets to root around in the bag looking for a "5" so they can go up the ladder, but I think it's worth it.
In order to master the game, there were several spontaneous "time outs" called by the short folks to line up all the rods by size and practice measuring with eyes closed. They were worried that I wouldn't like that. As Margaret Homfrey from Montessori World says, "You see the children doing intelligent things....and the teacher is very pleased."
I love this idea! My son is waaay too young for this but I am going to file this away for the future! What at fun way to learn!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Thanks so much for the idea and link to the free eBook! I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow
ReplyDeleteHello, I am new to homeschooling and have not heard of Cruisenaire or Miquon. How do they differ from Math-U-See?
ReplyDeleteHi! Miquon is a really inexpensive visual math curriculum from Key Press. It's been around a lot longer than Math-U-See, but works similar, I think.
ReplyDeleteDeb, you spoil me.
ReplyDeleteI have a huge bag of Mortesen math manipulatives... I think I will pull out some of them and use the Chutes and Ladders board.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if a set of the bead bars would work too....