The Stamp Game
The Stamp Game is a wonderful way to help the child transition from a ‘concrete’ understanding of the decimal system to a more ‘abstract’ understanding of it. The various activities in a Montessori classroom using the Stamp Game are listed below:
The Stamp Game: bridging exercise
The directress uses the Presentation Tray as well as the stamps from the Stamp Game box in this activity. The main aim of this exercise is to match the ‘concrete’ beads from the Presentation Tray to the ‘abstract’ stamps. This prepares the child for operations that will be done with the stamps.
The Stamp Game: formation of a number
This activity gives the child practice in forming a number with the stamps, the directress will ask the child a few times to make a number using the stamps. Through this activity the child becomes more familiar with the stamps, and how to use them.
The Stamp Game: Static addition (without change)
The child will learn a new way to add numbers, using yet another phenomenal Montessori material. In this case, the child will use the stamps to do addition without exchanging numbers - ‘static’
The Stamp Game: Dynamic addition (with change)
In this activity the directress teaches the child how to add numbers together, again using the stamps. This time an exchange will need to be made, hence the word ‘dynamic’.
The Stamp Game: Static multiplication (without change)
The child learns another fun and interesting way to multiply. The directress teaches the child how to do multiplication using the stamps, in this case, no exchange will need to be made. This activity reinforces expanded notation, as well as gives the child further practice finding the product of a number.
The Stamp Game: Dynamic multiplication (with change)
This activity is very similar to the one mentioned above. The difference here is there will be an exchange in hierarchies, hence the word ‘dynamic’.
The Stamp Game: Static subtraction (without change)
The child learns a new way to do subtraction in this activity. The directress shows him how to use the Montessori stamps to subtract one number away from another number. There will be no exchanging necessary in this exercise.
The Stamp Game: Dynamic subtraction (with change)
This Montessori Math exercise is very similar to the one mentioned above. This one differs as the child will need to exchange hierarchies - ‘dynamic’.
The Stamp Game: Static division (without change)
The directress shows the child how to divide a given number using the Montessori stamps. There will be no exchange necessary in this activity - ‘static’. This is a wonderful exercise that reinforces the division and equals sign, as well as gives the child further practice with expanded notation.
The Stamp Game: Dynamic division (with change)
This activity is very similar to the one mentioned above. The difference here is the child will have to exchange hierarchies, hence the word ‘dynamic’.