The Flat Bead Frame (Long Multiplication)
This frame is similar to the Large Bead Frame, but it does not stand and has a board at the back of the beads. Sometimes the beads are similar in colour to those of the Large Bead Frame and sometimes they are all Golden Beads.
Materials
- Lond Bead Frame
- Strips of white paper- used to write the multiplicand.
- Four sets of number cards from 1 to 9. These are sometimes in the colours of the decimal system. These cards are used to make the multiplier and are put on the right side of the frame.
Aim
An exercise in long multiplication. Helps to enrich the formation of the child’s concept of long multiplication.
Point of Interest
Activity involved.
Age
7 to 8 years.
Control of Error
At first in the Directress. At a later stage, the Long Division Glass Tubes may be used.
Presentation
- Explain to the child how the frame is used.
- On the strip of white paper we write the multiplicand and we place it on the frame whilst we are writing, and write each number exactly under each wire that is concerned.
- We use the white cards for our multiplier, which we place on the right side of the frame.
- Let us take 3,486 x 354. Write 3,486 on the paper and put out 354 on the frame.
- Start to do the sum, multiplying by the units.
- Turn down the other cards of the multiplier, do not record and continue working with the beads.
- When finished multiplying by the units, turn down the unit card and turn up the ‘ten’ card, i.e.the 5.
- We are now multiplying by what? 5. 5 what? 5 tens = 50 = 10 x 5.
- To multiply by 10, the multiplicand strip is moved along one place to the left and a zero appears in the units place on the frame.
- Having moved the multiplicand strip, we now have 34,860 which is 3,486 x 10.
- The child proceeds as before with 34,860 x 5.
- Continue with the sum as it is.
- To multiply by 100–at first the child can move the multiplicand strip back to its original place and then move it two places to the left.
- Later he will realise that when he has been multiplying by tens, to multiply by hundreds all he has to do is move the strip one place further on. (A second zero will be revealed on the frame).