Free Montessori Coloured Bead and Ten-Frame Matching Activity

Help children connect quantities to different visual representations with this free Montessori-inspired maths activity.

Children match the Montessori coloured bead bars for the numbers 1–10 with the corresponding ten frames. This gives children a hands-on way to practise counting, recognise quantities and see how numbers are organised within a group of ten.

The activity includes separate coloured bead-bar and ten-frame cards for every quantity from 1 to 10. The cards are designed to be cut apart so children can match the two representations independently. 

What Children Will Practise

• Counting quantities from 1 to 10
• Matching two representations of the same number
• Recognising quantities without relying only on numerals
• Understanding how numbers relate to five and ten
• Developing one-to-one correspondence
• Recognising the Montessori coloured bead sequence
• Working independently with a simple matching activity

Why Use Bead Bars and Ten Frames Together?

The Montessori coloured bead bars give each quantity a consistent length and colour, while ten frames show how the same quantity can be organised within a group of ten.

Matching the two helps children understand that a number remains the same even when it is shown in a different way. It also supports the visual recognition of quantities and prepares children for later work with number bonds, addition and place value.

How to Use This Activity

Print the two activity pages and cut the bead bars and ten frames into separate cards. Laminate them if you would like a durable resource for repeated use.

Begin with a small number of pairs. Invite the child to count the beads on one card and locate the ten frame showing the same quantity. Gradually add more cards until the child can match all the numbers from 1 to 10.

You could also:

• Ask the child to place the matched pairs in numerical order
• Add numeral cards from 1 to 10 to create a three-part matching activity
• Invite the child to recreate each card using physical Montessori bead bars
• Ask which quantities are fewer than five, equal to five or greater than five
• Use the cards as a quick independent maths-centre activity

Continue Your Montessori Number Work

When your child is ready for more work with the coloured bead stair and quantities to ten, these paid resources provide useful next steps:

• Montessori Coloured Bead Stair Worksheets – extend this activity with counting, tracing, number writing, sequencing and additional ten-frame matching work.
• Montessori Coloured Bead Clip Cards 1–10 – children count each bead bar and select the matching numeral or quantity, providing hands-on independent practice.
• Montessori-Inspired Number Trees – match coloured bead bars, finger symbols, ten frames and pictures to build a deeper understanding of numbers.
• Montessori Fact Families to 10 – use familiar coloured bead representations to introduce related addition and subtraction facts.
• Montessori Number Fact Knowledge Bundle – a larger collection of addition, subtraction and multiplication activities for children ready to move beyond basic quantity matching.

Created for Hands-On Early Maths

I am a Montessori-trained teacher, New Zealand registered teacher and Montessori school founder. I create practical resources that help children build mathematical understanding through concrete materials, visual patterns and independent practice.

This is a digital printable. No physical product will be shipped.