What are number rods in Montessori?
Number rods are ten wooden rods, 10 cm to 1 m long, painted in alternating red and blue 10 cm sections. Each rod represents a quantity from 1 to 10. Children count the sections, match rods to numeral cards and see that each number is a single whole, not loose objects.
What this means in practice
They build on the red rods and prepare for addition and subtraction.
Activities
- Counting sections 1 to 10
- Matching numeral cards
- Making 10 by combining rods
- Simple addition and subtraction
Why rods, not beads?
Each rod shows a quantity as one unit, so '5' is a single object, not five loose items.
Practical next steps
- Introduce after red rods.
- Count each section clearly.
- Match with cards.
- Combine rods to make 10.
ExampleLeo places the 7-rod and the 3-rod end to end and finds they match the 10-rod.
What to keep in mind
Keep rods straight and complete.
Common follow-up questions
What age?
About 4.
What do the colours mean?
They mark each unit section.
Sources
Examples are educational illustrations with made-up names. How these answers are prepared.