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Gather materials needed to begin the lesson. Have a map of China available along with images of the people, architecture and artwork of the country. If an abacus is available to use for this lesson, it will aid the learning process.
According to historyforkids.com, the people of China have been using an abacus with mathematics since as early as 500 B.C. Gather students and have them find China on the map. Share images of early abacuses with your elementary students. Discuss the history of the abacus and demonstrate how it is used. Allow students to take turns using the abacus to solve basic math problems. -
Give your elementary students some basic materials with which they can easily make a simple Chinese abacus. Large wooden beads along with leather twine or jute will create a single abacus that students can use and share at home.
Gather materials for students to use. Allow students to select 10 wooden beads of their choice. Help students tie one bead at the end of the length of twine. Have students add additional beads to create 10 beads in a row. Secure the end of the twine. This is a simple form of a larger-scale Chinese abacus for elementary students to use in solving basic math problems. -
Have elementary students write on the chalkboard several basic math problems that all use numbers that when added or subtracted have values less than 10. On the board, write the numbers in Chinese (See Reference) and have students copy them onto a paper of their own.
Using the Chinese abacus, solve the problems and write the answers in Chinese numbers. Have students take their Chinese abacuses and math problems home to share with their family.
