How to Introduce the Montessori Decimal Board: A Step-by-Step Guide Part 2
Once children have been introduced to the Montessori Decimal Board, the next step is to help them deepen their understanding of decimal place value and begin making connections between decimals, fractions and exchanging.
In this second part of the series, we move beyond the first introduction to the Decimal Board and begin working with quantities such as tenths, hundredths and thousandths. The aim is for children to see that decimals are not simply numbers written with a decimal point, but quantities that have a clear relationship to our base-ten number system.
I am quite flexible in how I present these Montessori decimal lessons and adapt them to the child in front of me. Some children may be ready to combine several of these presentations, while others will benefit from spending longer working concretely with the materials.
If you have not already done so, you can begin with Part 1: How to Introduce the Montessori Decimal Board. In the lessons below, children will compare 0.1 with 1/10, build decimal quantities on the board, connect spoken quantities with written notation, and begin learning how to exchange decimals when there are ten or more in one place-value column.
The Lesson - Introduction 4
Have the Yellow Decimal Board out along with the fraction strip so student can see how 0.1 compares to 1/10.
1) The teacher gives a student a quantity and has the student select the disks and places it on the board
2) Dependent on the student you may wish to write what you have made on a piece of paper so the student can see what the words look like to go with the quantity (see picture above). Continue with other single numbers e.g 6 hundredths, 9 thousandths.
3) Students can now do this activity with a peer.
The Lesson - Introduction 5 Exchanging
1) Select an amount bigger than ten e.g. twelve tenths. Ask the student to make the number - again you may wish to write down what the student has made.
2) Go over with the student what happens when we get 10 or more in a column - we have to exchange.
3) Demonstrate the exchange. Again you may wish to write down what you have made in words.
Continue the Montessori Decimal Board Series
If you are working through the Montessori Decimal Board lessons, you can move backwards or forwards in the series depending on what your child or students need next.
← Part 1: How to Introduce the Montessori Decimal Board
Start with the first Decimal Board lessons and introduce tenths, hundredths and thousandths concretely.
Part 3: Continue the Montessori Decimal Board Lessons →
Build on this work with larger decimal quantities, notation and further connections between decimal place value and fractions.
Ready for More Independent Decimal Practice?
Once children understand the concept with the Montessori materials, follow-up work can help them consolidate decimal place value and gradually move towards more abstract maths.
- Montessori Decimal Task Cards – practise reading, comparing, ordering and understanding decimal numbers.
- Montessori Decimal Addition Task Cards – follow-up practice for children beginning operations with decimal quantities.
- Montessori Decimal Subtraction Task Cards – reinforce decimal subtraction, place value and exchanging.
- Ordering Decimals on a Number Line – help children see the relative size of decimal numbers and strengthen decimal magnitude understanding.
Looking for a Bigger Decimal Collection?
Explore the Montessori Decimal Fraction Operations Bundle for a wider range of ready-to-use follow-up activities covering decimal place value and operations.