Montessori Mom

The Red Rods (Long Stair)

Ages

3 to 6 years old

Material

10 red wooden rods, all the same thickness but varying in length from 10 centimeters to one meter. Each rod increases in length by 10 centimeters — the length of the smallest rod. The longest rod is 10 times longer than the smallest.

Presentation

Spread a mat or rug on the floor. Mix the rods on the mat. Place the rods in order of length to form the stair. Children love starting with the longest rod! Make sure the left-hand side is even. As you place each rod, measure it slowly with your fingertips from top to bottom — this connects the brain to the hand movement.

Exercise

Your child builds the stair as demonstrated. When complete, show your child that the difference between any two rods next to each other is always one smallest rod. This gives the first impression that counting is always adding one more to the previous number — the concrete level of counting (which is a form of addition).

Purpose

• Understanding of size and dimension
• Muscular and visual perception of length, leading to observation and knowledge applied to the child's environment
• Small motor skills development
• Math readiness — sequence, order, and the foundation of addition

Control of Error

The child can visually see whether the stair is even on the left side. Any rod out of order will break the pattern.

Helpful Hint

As with the Brown Stair, Pink Tower, and Red Rods, you can begin with every other rod until your child has mastered the final lesson.

Advanced Exercise

Your child can combine the Pink Tower, Brown Stair, and Red Rods together. Comparisons and differences can be noted between the three materials — this is a wonderful extension that deepens understanding of dimension.

Free Printouts

Download these free Red Rods printable activities:

• Red Rods Printout — A printable version of the Red Rods for practice and coloring
• Red Rods Answer Key — The key for the Red Rods printout activity

Recommended Materials

If you're adding Red Rods to your home classroom, here are two good options:

• Montessori Long Red Rods — Full 10-Piece Set — 10 solid wooden rods graduated from 10cm to 1 metre, the classroom standard size
• Kghios Montessori Red Rods — Compact Set — A smaller 5cm–50cm version, ideal for home use with limited space