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children can use the five frame to see the relationship from the abacus and fingers

Learn Math with Five Frame and the Abacus

LearningWithLynette| Counting Frames
January 30, 2024•3 min read

In addition to counting and filling the five squares, children can use the five frame to see the relationship from the abacus. The five frame is a visual representation to help children organize and understand the world of numbers and patterns. It is a group of five squares to make the five frame. This math concept helps with early math education and introduces subitizing. Putting the counters in a a frame makes seeing the number easy. This is important for children to see this relationship and this is strengthen with Abacus.

Laying the Foundation- Five Frame

Five frame is all about counting and filling the squares. Just like counting on your fingers, the five frame can represent the fingers on a hand. Here is the five frame.

Empty Five frame to display the structure and five frame framework

Visualizing numbers

It is important to be able to visualize numbers in order to be proficient in mathematics.

Number 0

With an empty frame, this helps the children to understand that there is nothing in the frame. The abacus is also represented here with the clear frame. There are no beads touching the beam. The hand displays no counted fingers.

The abacus is also represented here with the clear frame. There are no beads touching the beam. The hand displays no counted fingers.

Number 1

In the five frame, one square is filled, so children will be able to visually see that the five frame square is being filled. This is also represented on the abacus with one bead touching the beam. One finger is counted on the hand.

One square is filled on the five frame. This is also represented on the abacus with one bead touching the beam. One finger is counted on the hand.

Number 2

In the five frame, two squares are filled, so children will be able to visually see that the five frame square is being filled. This is also represented on the abacus with two beads touching the beam. Two fingers are counted on the hand.

In the five frame, two squares are filled, This is also represented on the abacus with two beads touching the beam. Two fingers are counted on the hand.

Number 3

In the five frame, three squares are filled, so children will be able to visually see that the five frame square is being filled. This is also represented on the abacus with three beads touching the beam. Three fingers are counted on the hand.

In the five frame, three squares are filled, This is also represented on the abacus with three beads touching the beam. Three fingers are counted on the hand.

Number 4

In the five frame, four squares are filled, so children will be able to visually see that the five frame square is being filled. This is also represented on the abacus with two beads touching the beam. Four fingers are counted on the hand.

In the five frame, four squares are filled. This is also represented on the abacus with four beads touching the beam. Four fingers are counted on the hand.

Number 5

In the five frame, all the squares are filled. On the abacus, the top bead is representing five. The top bead touches the bead and the bottom beads are moved to not touch the beam. The open hand with all fingers counted is displayed.

In the five frame, all the squares are filled. On the abacus, the top bead touches the beam and the bottom beads are not touching the beam. An open hand with all fingers counted is displayed.

To learn more about how the Abacus decomposes and utilizes the five. The post is Abacus Vs Addition Table Understanding Five Frame Part 2 of 4.

For more information about counting on the abacus, I created a reference sheet with displaying the abacus, number representation on the hand and place value.

Abacus number representation reference sheet with finger display and place value

If you are looking for activities for the abacus, I created a workbook to start counting with an abacus.

sample image of 3 abacus worksheets. The first page is the title page of the worksheet, second page is a reference sheet of the abacus, displaying numbers 0 to 4 on the abacus, in picture form and the number. The third sample page is an example of the color, cut and paste activity with positional words to help students understand positions.

If you want to try an abacus activity, there is a FREE interactive activity worksheet to start your child' math journey.

sample image of 3 abacus worksheets. The first page is the title page of the worksheet, second page is a reference sheet of the abacus, displaying numbers 0 to 4 on the abacus, in picture form and the number. The third sample page is an example of the color, cut and paste activity with positional words to help students understand positions.

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