The Montessori Red Rods are part of the Sensorial Curriculum.

The Red Rods introduce the child to mathematical concepts like counting, length, the decimal system, and addition with the purpose to develop the child’s visual and muscular perception of length.

They also aim to develop the child’s coordination of movement, assisting with balance and concentration, and providing the child with the basic language of mathematics.

The Red Rods are comprised of 10 wooden rods, differing in one dimension, length. The smallest rod is 10cm long, and the largest rod is 100cm. Each rod increases by increments of 10cm in length.

Through repetition with the Red Rods, the child will learn to discriminate between long and short, build the rods in a stair formation, and find disharmony in building the rods incorrectly.