Golden beads are a Montessori material used to introduce children to the concepts of place value, quantity, and the decimal system. They are typically made of wooden or plastic beads and come in different colors to represent different place values.

The golden beads material includes beads of different sizes and colors. The smallest bead represents the unit, and as the beads increase in size and value, they represent tens, hundreds, and thousands. For example, a unit is represented by a golden unit bead, ten units by a golden ten-bar, one hundred units by a golden hundred square, and one thousand units by a golden thousand cube.

Golden beads help students understand the decimal system by visually representing the transition from one place value to the next. Each decimal category (units, tens, hundreds, thousands) has a distinct color, making it easier for children to distinguish and identify the different values. Children are encouraged to physically handle and manipulate the golden beads, which helps them develop a concrete understanding of quantity and place value. They can build and deconstruct numbers by combining and separating the beads, reinforcing the concept of composing and decomposing numbers.

Golden beads are typically introduced to children around the age of four or five, after they have developed a solid understanding of quantity and numeration with other Montessori materials. The beads are usually organized on a shelf, and children are encouraged to explore and work with them independently or in small groups. Golden beads provide a concrete and multi-sensory experience that helps children build a strong foundation in understanding place value and the decimal system.