The big ideaEach wire is a row of ten beads. We start on the bottom row.
How it works
Each wire is a row, and every row has ten beads.
A bead stays on its own row, just like a sock stays on its own washing line.
We start on the bottom row. The rows above are for bigger numbers.
Three beads slid across on the bottom row.
Example 1: Start at the bottom
Show your child a frame and its rows.
Point to the bottom row. That is the row we start on.
Slide three beads across on the bottom row and leave the row above alone.
Three beads on the bottom row, none on the top.
Example 2: Beads stay put
Slide a bead across on the bottom row.
It stays on its own row, like a sock on its line.
A bead never hops to a different row.
One bead across on the bottom row.
Example 3: Rows at home
Look for rows together: books on a shelf, tiles on a floor, eggs in a box.
Point to each row as you count how many rows there are.
Then point to the bottom row.
Words to know
row
A line of beads on one wire.
bottom row
The first row. We start here.
top row
A row above, for bigger numbers.
wire
It holds a line of beads.
Watch out
A bead stays on its own row.
Start on the bottom row.
Different frames have different numbers of rows: one, two or three.
Try it
How many beads are on one full row?
Which row do we start on?
Can a bead hop onto a different row?
What are the rows above the bottom row for?
Answers: 1. ten · 2. the bottom row · 3. no, it stays on its own row · 4. bigger numbers
Try at homeAsk a grown-up to help you spot rows at home, like books on a shelf, tiles on a floor or eggs in a box. Point to each row as you count how many rows there are, and then find the bottom row.
For grown-upsPoint out rows around the house, like books on a shelf or eggs in a box, and ask your child which row is the bottom one.
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