I was looking at some of my granddaughter’s favorite Spielgaben materials the other day … the wooden sticks and dots. And I couldn’t help but think of digital numbers and wonder if the sticks could be used to build numbers. I couldn’t find exactly what I was envisioning for digital clock numbers to use with the sticks, so I got to work creating a digital numbers printable.
Using that and two other printables for a variety of ages from toddlers through early elementary, I prepared 3 different trays to use to give an introduction to digital numbers and telling time. Two of the activities will work for older toddlers who don’t mouth objects and preschoolers, while one is for older preschoolers through early elementary.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Spielgaben. All opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Spielgaben, Version 4
Cabinet for Spielgaben Version 4
In case you’re not familiar with Spielgaben toys, they are exceptionally high-quality educational toys designed for ages 3-12. You can see from the photo that the cabinet is very high quality and fits in well in a room with traditional Montessori materials. I love the new, easily removable drawers in version 4. The yarn balls from the 1st Spielgaben set can be used with babies and toddlers, too.
The Spielgaben complete set comes with over 1,000 pages of supplementary learning materials that help you as a parent or teacher easily use Spielgaben toys educationally with your child and/or students. All of the instructional materials are digital PDFs that can be printed out or viewed on any device. Now, you can also buy them in print.
Spielgaben Materials Used in This Post
I used the Spielgaben wooden sticks (set 8), which you can purchase separately if you have the latest version. I love the wooden sticks, so it’s nice to have both versions of sticks. Spielgaben vertex balls and rods from Version 4 would also work.
I also used the Spielgaben points (wooden dots) to create Montessori-inspired activities. If you’re using Spielgaben toys in the traditional sequence used in Froebel education, these points are the 9th set or “gift” and have activities that can be used for advanced mathematical/geometric concepts. The points can also be used to create objects and designs.
The points are small, which makes them useful for practical life activities that develop fine-motor skills. And their small size makes them appealing to children in the sensitive period for small objects and details. This sensitive period is actually from ages 1½-4, although Spielgaben toys are only recommended for ages 3 and up because of safety considerations with babies and toddlers who put objects in their mouths. Most preschoolers are still drawn to small objects, so they will typically find the wooden dots very inviting.
I’ll link to free printables which will help make the activities simple to prepare yet attractive. I’ll also tell you where I found the materials for my activities.
Note: The yarn balls in set 1 are fine for babies and toddlers. The other sets should only be used with ages 3 and older unless your toddler no longer mouths objects or you are constantly supervising your toddler during an activity using the materials.
Matching Digital Clock Numbers to Sandpaper Numerals + Fine-Motor Activity with Wooden Sticks
This is an activity that’s espeically good for preschoolers and kindergarteners. This activity uses my free digital clock numbers printable. Younger children can match the digital number to a sandpaper numeral. (I used a Multicraft tray and large bamboo condiment cup for the wooden sticks.)
Younger children can simply match the numbers and then build the digital number with the Spielgaben wooden sticks. The printable includes digital numbers for 0-12, although you could use 1-9 or 0-9 with the sandpaper numerals. Building with the wooden sticks is a great activity for developing the pincer grip for writing, too. Older children could build the number off the card.
Building Digital Clock Numbers with Wooden Sticks
Matching Digital and Analog Time Cards + Building Time Symbols with Wooden Sticks and Dots
This activity uses the Tell the Time Worksheet by Chelsey West Andrews at Teachers Pay Teachers. I drew the hands on the clock faces to match the time cards, although you could have advanced students draw on the hands themselves. I used a Montessori Services basket and three small bamboo condiment cups. (I love these bamboo holders because they’re natural, lovely for baskets and wooden trays, and the perfect size for objects that are simply too small for many containers. I think they’re worth paying a little more for than some containers because of their beauty and usefulness.) These are perfect for holding the smallest Spielgaben wooden sticks along with wooden dots for the clock symbols.
For this activity, the child could match the analog clock face to the digital time symbol and then build the digital time symbol with wooden sticks and dots. You could have only the o’clock cards available or even just the time symbols for reading time and building the symbols.
I really do love the Spielgaben wooden sticks and dots! They’re fun for adults as well as kids!
Note: Here’s the link to my favorite laminator … inexpensive and great for almost any activity that needs to be laminated!
My Previous Spielgaben Posts:
Most of these include links to free printables! 
My original Spielgaben review includes examples of Montessori-inspired activities as shown in the collage above. 
Montessori-Inspired Color Activities Using Wooden Toys and Free Printables
Montessori-Inspired Math Activities Using Wooden Beads and Free Printables
Montessori-Inspired Geometry Activities Using Wooden Shapes and Free Printables
Montessori-Inspired Color Activities Using Spielgaben Yarn Balls and Free Printables
Montessori Monday – Geometric Solid Dressing, Wrapping, and Gift Giving (and Receiving)
Using Montessori-Inspired Activities for Elementary-Level Learning
Are Spielgaben Educational Toys Worth the Price?
Montessori-Inspired Age and Birthday Learning Activities
Montessori-Inspired Math Activities Using Cubes and free Printables
Montessori-Inspired Activities for Babies and Toddlers Using Yarn Balls
Montessori-Inspired Activities Using Spheres {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Sphere, Cube, Cylinder Activities {Free Printable}
Montessori-Inspired Phonics Activities Using Dots {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Christmas Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Color Games {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Color Games {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Valentine Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Rainbow Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Easter Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Color Activities for Toddlers {Free Printables}
Montessori-Inspired Summer Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Toddler Fine-Motor Activities with Spielgaben 
Montessori-Inspired Addition Activities Using Dots {Free Printables} 
Montessori-Inspired Train Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables} 
Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
How to Prepare Montessori Sensorial Extensions with Spielgaben
Montessori-Inspired Winter Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
Version 4 of Spielgaben Educational Toys
I highly recommend Spielgaben as an amazing educational material for home or school. Even though the toys aren’t inexpensive, they’re definitely worth the price because of the high quality of materials and number of years your children or students can use them.
Spielgaben Version 4
Version 4 retails at US $449.50. The price is higher than version 3.0 because there are many more materials. My readers can own this new version at 11% off! If you order both the complete Spielgaben set and the printed version of the learning resources, you can get the set for 11% off and the learning resources for 30% off! By ordering together, you save a total of US $80 ($50 on the complete kit and $30 on the printed version). This is the best deal Spielgaben has offered!
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