Abacus is the Roman prototype of Russian accounts, their significant difference was that the pebbles were not fixed on wires (as in Russian accounts), they were used for various kinds of calculations. Nowadays, children learn the abacus in elementary school, and many parents are baffled by the request of their children to make an abacus. In fact, you just need a little time and a few tips.
It is necessary
- - thick paper or cardboard;
- - ruler;
- - pencil;
- - compasses;
- - stencil knife (paper knife);
- - glue;
- - colored paper;
Instructions
Step 1
Spread a small piece of heavyweight paper or cardboard across three columns. Please note that the columns must be the same width. They will represent the first three numerical digits: ones, tens and hundreds.
Step 2
In each of the three columns, cut 10 square or round holes of the same size. To keep the abacus neat, mark in advance where you will cut the holes and what size they will be. If you decide to make the holes round, you will need a pair of compasses for marking.
Step 3
From below, you need to glue or sew colored paper, it should contrast with the main color of the cardboard or paper from which you are making the abacus, so that the cut holes are clearly visible on its background. Please note that you do not need to glue the colored paper entirely, but only along the edges of the columns, so that there is a small gap under each row of holes.
Step 4
Cut three strips out of the cardboard so that they fit freely into the gap you left between the base and the colored paper. This is necessary so that, by pushing or removing these strips, the required number of holes opens in each digit and, thereby, shows a multi-digit number.
Step 5
According to a similar scheme, an abacus can be made, which will show not three numerical digits: units, tens and hundreds, but also thousands. To do this, you just need to make on this basis not three, but four columns with holes, and, accordingly, 4 cardboard rulers.
Step 6
If you are making an abacus for a child, use only sturdy cardboard so that it does not deform much if used carelessly. Also, for convenience, it is better to take cardboard of different colors, i.e. the base of the abacus should be in one color, the bottom (colored paper) in another, and the rulers in a third, and they should all contrast with each other. This will make it easier for your child to understand how the abacus works and how it works.
