Using the Abacus in First and Second Grade
of reading - words
Your child is starting or is in first grade, and you want to give them every opportunity to succeed.
Like many parents, you place paramount importance on learning mathematics. And rightfully so! It is very important for your child to build a solid foundation from first and second grade.
Learning gaps at this level are a very bad sign and can cause your child numerous problems. One solution to facilitate learning is the abacus, which makes learning much more intuitive.
In this article, we will explore which abacus and activities to introduce to children at this level.
Choosing an Abacus for a First Grader
One of the best manipulative tools for first and second grade students is the good old school abacus (or 100-bead abacus), which has 10 rods and 10 beads on each rod.
This is not a Chinese abacus or Japanese soroban with a special counting system. It's about using a simple 100-bead abacus for counting, treating each bead as a single one. You do not need to learn those sophisticated systems used with different abacuses. Just consider each bead as being 1, period, which is simpler for the beginner child.
Your abacus contains 10 or 100 beads, which largely explains the two-digit place value of the beads for kindergarten and first grade children.
It is preferable for the abacus to have five beads of alternating colors, like the abacus on the right. The child will then easily recognize 6, 7, and 8 beads without counting them.
Nevertheless, it is entirely possible to start with the soroban at this age. It does add a complication but will accompany the child further in their academic journey.
We explore in a previous article in more detail the different types of abacuses and how they can be relevant for different children and different learning objectives.
Abacus Exercises to Do
Learning Numbers
Play a simple game with the abacus. On your turn, you say a number, for example 42, and the child "makes" it or displays it on the abacus. Then, the child says a number for you and you show it on the abacus.
Keep taking turns like this until it becomes automatic for the child.
Going in tens and ones. Choose, for example, 6 beads on one rod and 8 on the next. You can show that the 5 and the 5 on these two rods make 10, and there are some left over.
Subtraction (and Addition) Patterns
Show the student how to do each of the subtractions:
10 − 5
20 − 5
60 − 5
The student will notice that they are very similar - there is a pattern!
Adding 2-digit numbers without regrouping (carrying). To add 23 + 45, a child can move 2 tens and 4 tens, then 3 and 5 single beads. You can show the child how to add the tens and the ones separately.
The idea of regrouping. Let the child explore what happens with 28 + 9 and other sums that require regrouping.
Basic Multiplication Model
For multiplication, the model remains the same.
For example, move 4 beads on each of 5 neighboring rods, and there you have 5 times 4!
It is obviously only possible to display tables up to 10, but the goal is for the child to understand the principle of multiplication, not so much that they know how to perform it on the abacus at this level.
There are other more efficient methods for performing multiplication on an abacus. But that is not the objective at this level.
Resources for Learning the Abacus
You will find very good resources on this page for teaching the abacus to children in early elementary (first and second grade).
The Abacus: Ritualized Activities in First and Second Grade
Learning with the Montessori Abacus Variant
Your child does not need to follow the Montessori method to use the educational resources derived from it.
Montessori pedagogy offers an interesting method for learning the abacus. The abacus is used with a specific board.
This method directly teaches the "normal" use of the abacus for all operations.
To learn more, we invite you to read our dedicated article on the Montessori abacus.
The Ball Is in Your Court
You now have a precise idea of which activities you can offer your child in first/second grade.
Why not take action by buying an abacus for your child?
