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Do You Need to Buy Montessori Cards and Counters?

September 16, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 8 Comments

Previous article: Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities
Next article: 30+ Apple Sensory Tubs (Sensory Bins)

I’ve been trying to answer questions lately about which Montessori materials are necessary for homeschoolers to buy. One material you don’t need to buy is a set of cards and counters. It’s easy to create Montessori cards and counters using a variety of themes.

Here are some ideas for DIY cards and counters trays and layouts for different themes during the year. They show the simplicity of preparing your own cards and counters. Children are often much more interested in themed cards and counters than in the traditional cards and counters anyway.

Often, you can just print out 1-10 themed number cards and add glass gems or another type of counter (almost any small object – if you have 55 uniform objects). Many of the materials you use for counters can be used for other themed activities in multiple curriculum areas. So, like the recommendations in my “Montessori Practical Life Materials I Recommend Buying”, it’s a matter of buying some basic materials in the beginning (or as you can afford them) that can be used for numerous activities.

Examples of DIY Montessori Cards and Counters Using Free Printables

Fire Engine Cards and Counters

Fire Engine Cards and Counters

Ghost Cards and Counters

Ghost Cards and Counters

Valentine Cards and Counters

Valentine Cards and Counters

Valentine Cards and Counters Variation

Valentine Cards and Counters Variation

St. Patrick's Day Cards and Counters

St. Patrick’s Day Cards and Counters

DIY Montessori Cards and Counters

You’ll find more examples of cards and counters you can make in my DIY Montessori Cards and Counters post.

For more ideas of DIY Montessori materials, see the complete list of my DIY roundup posts in my “DIY Montessori Materials”.

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Previous article: Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities
Next article: 30+ Apple Sensory Tubs (Sensory Bins)

Filed Under: Activities - Math, Holidays and Celebrations, Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials, Montessori Monday Tagged With: DIY Montessori Cards and Counters, DIY Montessori materials, Montessori, Montessori Monday, numbers and counters, unit study

Previous Post: « Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities
Next Post: 30+ Apple Sensory Tubs (Sensory Bins) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carolyn Wilhelm says

    September 16, 2013 at 6:48 am

    Thank you so much for explaining all this to us, Deb!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 19, 2013 at 11:11 pm

      Thanks, Carolyn! I really love creating themed cards and counters. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Maria says

    September 18, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    We love to use different counters around here specially those tiny erasers from the dollar spot at Target which are great for some seasonal-themed math. Awesome post!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      September 19, 2013 at 11:12 pm

      Thanks, Maria! Tiny erasers are a great invention, aren’t they?! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Carrie says

    September 27, 2013 at 6:02 pm

    I love all your counter cards!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

    Reply

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