The Tens Boards Activity Set is a Educational Materials Montessori material designed for children aged 3-6, crafted by Nienhuis Montessori to AMI standards.
This comprehensive Tens Boards Activity Set introduces children to place value concepts through hands-on manipulation of numbered cards. The wooden storage box contains specially designed cards showing numbers in both digit and word form, allowing children to build two-digit numbers while understanding the relationship between tens and units. Perfect for developing mathematical foundations through concrete materials that make abstract number concepts visible and tangible.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”— Maria MontessoriEducation and Peace
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
— Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The Tens Boards Activity Set addresses the critical developmental period when children transition from counting individual objects to understanding our decimal number system. These specially designed cards make visible the invisible structure of two-digit numbers by physically separating tens from units. The wooden storage box provides a defined workspace where children can systematically build numbers from 10 to 99, discovering that each two-digit number contains groups of ten plus additional units. Through manipulating these numbered cards showing both digit and word forms, children experience the predictable pattern of our number system - after nine comes a new ten, creating a concrete foundation for place value understanding. The Tens Boards transform the abstract concept of 'forty-seven' into a tangible reality: four tens cards plus seven unit cards. This material exists because children need to see and touch number construction before they can mentally manipulate larger quantities.
Each order includes everything needed for proper presentation and long-term use.
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Invite the child to build the number 11 by selecting the '10' card and placing the '1' card on top, aligning it to cover the zero
Continue building 12, 13, through 19, naming each number as you construct it
Build 20 by removing all unit cards and selecting the '20' tens card
Invite the child to continue building numbers sequentially or to construct specific numbers you name
Every material is carefully selected for durability, safety, and authentic Montessori experience.
The smooth wooden storage box provides a sensorial experience while teaching organization and care of materials
Each material supports multiple areas of child development simultaneously.
Builds concrete understanding of place value and the decimal system through hands-on manipulation
Connects number symbols with written words, reinforcing mathematical vocabulary
Develops logical ordering skills as children arrange numbers from 1-99
Precise card placement refines pincer grasp and hand-eye coordination
Designed for child-sized hands
Professional tips from AMI-trained guides to maximize the educational value of this material.
“Store tens cards and unit cards in separate compartments within the wooden box for easy sorting”
Introduce this material after children confidently recognize numerals 1-9 and understand zero
'four tens and three units make forty-three'
Create number cards for children to match with their constructed numbers
Everything you need to know about this material.
The Tens Boards Activity Set is designed for children ages 3-6 years old. It's particularly effective when children have already worked with quantities 1-10 and are ready to explore larger numbers and place value concepts.
The set uses visual cards that separate tens and units, allowing children to physically build two-digit numbers by combining cards. This concrete manipulation helps children understand that numbers like 34 are made of 3 tens and 4 units, making abstract place value concepts tangible.
The set includes numbered cards showing digits 10-90 in tens, unit cards 1-9, and corresponding word form cards. All materials are organized in a wooden storage box with compartments for easy access and proper storage after use.
Yes, children should be familiar with numbers 1-10 and have experience with concrete counting materials like the golden beads or number rods. This foundational knowledge helps them understand the progression to tens and place value.
Unlike abstract number teaching, this Montessori material allows children to physically construct numbers, see the separation between tens and units, and match digit forms with word forms. This multi-sensory approach creates deeper understanding through hands-on exploration.
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