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How to use the Bead String

Maarten avatar
Written by Maarten
Updated over a week ago

The Bead String helps students develop number sense and recognize numbers in groups of 5 and 10. This tool supports early math skills in kindergarten and grades 1–2, and helps students build fluency with numbers through visual patterns.

How it works:

  1. Drag the beads along the string to group or count them.

  2. Click on a bead to display its number. Click again to hide the number.

  3. Use the tool to practice counting, grouping, adding, or subtracting with your students.

Settings:

In the Settings menu, you can customize the bead string:

  • Beads: Choose between a straight string or a winding string (multiple rows).

  • Amount of beads: Select 10, 20, 50, or 100 beads.

  • Bead structure: Show beads in groups of 5 or groups of 10.

  • Colors: Pick the two bead colors you want to use.

💡Tip: Use the bead string to make number jumps visible. For example, slide over 5 red beads and 3 white beads to show that 5 + 3 = 8. This helps students quickly see number combinations and builds strong mental math skills.

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