How To Teach Even & Odd Numbers Using Counters - Montessori Math

Check out this simple DIY Montessori Math exercise to explain & teach the concept of even & odd numbers to children. Indirectly it also prepares the child for divisibility of numbers.

If you have been following this blog closely, I has posted about the work with Montessori beads done by my 3 year old son. If not, then you can click right HERE to check that in detail. That exercise was basically to associate digits to the quantities. Quantification is very important to understand.

He has been practicing that for long now so I thought it is a good time to expose him to the concept of even & odd numbers. For that I took out my versatile wooden digit counters from the below set & Montessori beads.



If you do not have wooden digit counters, you can easily make paper cards and write digits on them by hand.

Then I asked him to arrange the beads in the correct fashion. And he did it quite nicely & confidently. Check out in my Instagram video where he is counting & arranging the beads. It is hilarious!

This is how our practice session with Montessori beads looked like yesterday :) hilarious! #thekjunction #montessoritoddler #Montessori #montessorimaths #math #montessoriathome #montessoribeads #homeschool #homeschooling #earlylearning #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #mommyblogger #3years

A post shared by Kuhoo Gupta (The K Junction) (@kuhoogupta) on May 17, 2018 at 12:20pm PDT

After that I asked him to place the walnut shells in pairs below each digit as per their quantities. Walnut shells make great counters, right?

And then I told him a quick story. Those which are in pairs have friends to play with and they are called even numbers. Those which have one shell left alone are always looking for a friend to play with, they are called odd numbers.

And this little story gave him a good grasp of the concept! Listen to his answers in my Instagram video below when I asked him whether this number is odd or even for couple of numbers!

After practicing the Montessori bead work for quite some time, I introduced the concept of even and odd to him. Walnut shells make brilliant counters, no? I asked him to count the shells and arrange them in pairs. And then I explained him that those which are in pairs have friends to play with and they are called even numbers. Those which have one shell left alone are always looking for a friend to play with, they are called odd numbers. And this little story have him a good grasp of the concept. Listen to his answers in the video :) #thekjunction #montessoritoddler #Montessori #montessorimaths #math #montessoriathome #montessoribeads #homeschool #homeschooling #earlylearning #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #mommyblogger #3years

A post shared by Kuhoo Gupta (The K Junction) (@kuhoogupta) on May 17, 2018 at 6:33am PDT

Purpose Of This Exercise

Direct

• To reinforce the knowledge that each number is made up of separate quantities.
• To indicate the odd and even numbers

Indirect

• To prepare for the divisibility of numbers

You can see the exact presentation of this Montessori exercise HERE. 

Which Math exercise/activity have you done with your child recently? Share your blog post in comments below, I would love to see & get some inspiration.

---

Do not forget to follow "The K Junction" on Facebook page & closed Facebook group, Twitter and Instagram for day to day updates that might not always find a place on this blog. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to know more about our early learning journey, DIY & Montessori & Waldorf inspired activities for kids, kids books & toys reviews and much more!

Hope to see you around. Happy Parenting!

---