Spindle boxes are part of the Montessori math curriculum, but they’re a material homeschoolers will often be much happier making than buying. While the spindle boxes are important in Montessori schools, they typically aren’t a popular material.
Spindle boxes were one of the least-used materials when I had a Montessori school. They were rarely used except for the times when I introduced them to a child or asked a child to work with me on the spindle boxes.
The spindle boxes have important purposes of reinforcing the idea that the symbols represent certain quantities of separate objects, introducing the concept of zero and its symbol, and reinforcing the sequence of the numerals. They’re also an indirect preparation of the concept that only the only numerals used in our system of math are 0-9.
The traditional spindle boxes are two boxes divided into five compartments each. One box has the numerals 0-4 at the back of the compartments; the other box has the numerals 5-9 at the back of the compartments. There are also 45 spindles in a basket or box and 9 ties or elastics. Today, many spindle boxes consist of just one box with the numerals 0-9.
Purchased Spindle Box for a Montessori School (Photo from Leptir)
You can buy or make the set of 2 spindle boxes or one spindle box for the numerals 0-9. Here are some ideas for making your own spindle box(es):
DIY Montessori Spindle Boxes
Maybe Montessori made a spindle box for $2.54 by using an unpainted wood tray, wooden slats, stick-on numbers, and wooden dowels.
DIY Spindle Boxes (Photo from Making Montessori Ours)
Making Montessori Ours made spindle boxes from dollar store boxes, paint stir stick dividers, vinyl numerals, and cut-down chopsticks.
Spindle Box (Photo from What DID We Do All Day?)
What DID We Do All Day? made spindle boxes from photo boxes, balsa wood dividers, stick-on numerals, and Popsicle sticks.
My Little Princess World made spindle boxes from an ice stick tray, stickers with handwritten numerals, and bamboo skewers.
Montessori on a Budget made a spindle box from toilet paper rolls, board, handwritten numerals, and sticks.
Montessori Mum made a spindle box from a mooncake box, recycled cardboard partitions, stick-on numerals, and straws.
DIY Spindle Boxes (Photo from Mi Escuelita Montessori)
Mi Escuelita Montessori made spindle boxes from inexpensive plastic baskets, computer-generated numerals, and straws.
The Free Child made spindle boxes from stackable boxes, wooden dividers, chipboard numerals, and wooden dowels.
Pyjama School made spindle boxes from divided plastic boxes from the craft store, computer-generated numerals, and wooden dowels.
Mama Jenn used water bottle ice trays, a labeler machine to make numerals, and Q-tips.
Create made a portable spindle “box” made with felt and wooden spindles.
54 Stitches made a fabric spindle “box” made with fabric and wooden spindles.
Handmade Montessori has “stick pockets” made with fabric and wooden spindles.
Montessori By Hand has a tutorial for spindle box ties.
Claudia Porta used wooden sticks, a piece of paper divided into sections for 0-9, and rubber bands.
Spindle Box Presentation
Montessori Primary Guide has a spindle box presentation (and the above video).
Spindle Box Presentation (Photo from Leptir)
Leptir has a detailed spindle box presentation and photos.
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I love how pocket friendly your projects are =-)
And they always look like so much fun!
Beth
Thanks, Beth! I think cost is always one of the main worries for Montessori homeschoolers, and I love finding ways to make it inexpensive and easily doable! 🙂
Never knew about spindle boxes! Great info! Loved the plastic spindle boxes and straws. Will try this activity with my LO.
Thanks for your comment, Anu! I love the price and simplicity of the plastic spindle boxes and straws! If your child has any confusion with counting, it will help if all your straws are the same color. Have fun! 🙂
This is a cool tool and I think I’ll make one!
But…wouldn’t it be better to show the number AND the word?
My daughter can read them both ways and prefers the word to the actual numbers!
Maybe that’s just her love of reading but wouldn’t it be killing 2 birds with 1 stone that way?
I was also wondering why everything only goes to 10? Is there a reason or can I make one that goes to 100.
Our clever little monster is so bored with just TEN all the time that she either won’t count things or will only count backwards.
Stubborn, this one!!!
Thanks for your comments, DianeMargaret! The traditional spindle boxes are designed to just focus on specific goals such as the numbers 0-9. In Montessori education, there’s typically isolation of quality where only the concept being focused on varies (only the number of spindles varies, but the color and shape, etc., remain the same). Isolation of quality is great for preventing confusion and helping children learn new concepts quickly and easily.
That said, there’s no reason you couldn’t create your own extension/variation to fit your daughter’s needs. You could certainly add words and make your spindle boxes go to 100! 🙂
Great project! There are several easy ways I could make them for my daughters. Marked on my to do list.
Thanks, Veronica! I hope you have good luck with your project! 🙂
Wow! That box from Making Montessori Ours is absolutely gorgeous! I love the Spindle Boxes, and if I were handy in that way I’d love to try making them with the spindles of Maria’s day 🙂 Thanks for another inspiring roundup!
Thanks for your kind comment, Melissa! I’m always amazed at the DIY materials from Making Montessori Ours! It would be great to have the spindles from Maria Montessori’s day. 🙂
What a great post and reminder! It has been such a long time that we don’t use our homemade spindle box. Also, thanks for linking our post. Have a great holiday!
Thanks, Airamty … and my pleasure! Spindle boxes do get forgotten easily. I love that you came up with such an inexpensive and creative version. I’m glad my post was a reminder! 🙂
Thank you so much for including us here!!! I LOVE all of the amazing ideas you share it is so helpful:)
My pleasure, Cherine … your DIY materials are always awesome! And thanks so much for your kind comment! 🙂
I love the Spindle Box, so many different things you can use for spindles. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your comment, Discovering Montessori! It is great that so many different things can be used for spindles … I love to see these creative spins on Montessori materials. 🙂
thank you for sharing! these are great budget friendly ideas! I am pinning this post!
Alex @ teachthroughplay.blogspot.com
Thanks, Alex! I’m amazed at just how inexpensive some of these spindle boxes were to make. Thanks so much for pinning my post! 🙂
These are great! People are so creative. I love all the different ideas shared.
Thanks, Randalin! I love the creativity involved, too! 🙂
Thanks for sharing the several ways to make spindle boxes.
Cathie at toddlersthroughpreschool.com
Thanks for your comment, Cathie! I had fun finding all these creative ideas! 🙂