ACTIVE LEARNING #15 - BRAIN BEADS

Don’t you just love tools that you can use in lots of different ways? It’s like my kitchen scissors. I couldn’t live without them to open packages, snip herbs, trim meat, cut veggies, etc. Just like tools in your kitchen, I have some handy math tools that you will be able to use in creating multi-sensory experiences in a variety of ways with a variety of skill levels.

Brain Beads

WHAT?
Brain beads are a simple tool that can be used to reinforce counting in a concrete way. You will need pipe cleaners and pony beads.  Knot one end of the pipe cleaner. String on 10 beads. Knot the other end.

         

HOW?

Counting 
Slide the beads to the left and then move them over one at a time to the right as you count.

       

*Flip the pipe cleaner over so the beads are on the left again and count from 11-20. Continue flipping the pipe cleaner and counting higher.

*Slide all the beads at once and count “ten.” Flip it over and slide all the beads as you say “twenty.” Continue counting by ten’s by sliding all ten beads at one time.

Friends of Ten
How many ways can you make ten?

Number Stories
Slide beads to demonstrate number stories.

Words– Slowly say a short sentence.  Have children follow you as you model moving a bead to the right for each word.  

Hint!  Always demonstrate and model before asking children to do these activities independently.

Syllables– Move beads for syllables you hear in words.

Phonemes– Say words slowly stretching out the sounds. Slide a bead for each phoneme. Say the word and slide the beads together to the left.

Talking Beads- You can also use the beads to guide sharing time.  Children can slide a bead over for every word that describes their object.  Then they can slide a bead for where they got it.  Finally, they can slide a bead as they say what it is.