Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand and use the abacus to perform basic calculations.
Materials and Prep
- An abacus
- A clear workspace
- Pen and paper
No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.
Activities
- Activity 1: Introduction to the Abacus
- Activity 2: Counting with the Abacus
- Activity 3: Addition with the Abacus
- Activity 4: Subtraction with the Abacus
Take a close look at the abacus and explore its different parts. Count the number of rods and beads on each rod. Familiarize yourself with the layout and structure of the abacus.
Start by counting from 1 to 10 using the abacus. Slide one bead towards the center for each number you say out loud. Practice counting in order and then try counting backward from 10 to 1.
Choose two numbers to add together. Represent the first number on the abacus by sliding the appropriate beads. Then, represent the second number. Finally, count the total number of beads to find the sum.
Start with a number represented on the abacus. Choose a smaller number to subtract. Slide the beads accordingly and count the remaining beads to find the difference.
Talking Points
- Let's start by looking at the abacus. It has several rods, and on each rod, there are beads. We can slide the beads back and forth to represent different numbers.
- When we count, we can slide one bead towards the center for each number we say. Let's try counting from 1 to 10 together.
- Now, let's practice addition. Choose two numbers, and we'll represent them on the abacus. Then, we'll count all the beads to find the total.
- Subtraction is when we take away some beads. We start with a number on the abacus and slide beads to represent the smaller number we want to subtract. Then, we count the remaining beads to find the difference.