The Warload's Beads by Virginia Pilegard

The Warlord’s Beads by Virginia Walton Pilegard and illustrated by Nicolas Debon brings ancient China into your classroom while introducing young learners to foundational number concepts.

Young Chuan lives with his father in the lavish palace of a Chinese warlord. When his father is tasked with tallying the warlord’s treasure, constant interruptions make it almost impossible to keep an accurate count. Suspicious of errors, the warlord begins to doubt his father’s honesty.

Just in time, Chuan discovers a special use for the warlord’s jade beads, helping Father tally correctly and earning praise for both himself and his father.

I love using this book in Year 1-4 to illustrate the concept and importance of our base ten place value system when we count and the role counting frames like the ones featured in this story, played in ancient civilizations.

This beautifully illustrated book, not only refers to the importance of skills such as counting, adding, and subtracting, it also introduces students to the wonder, culture, and of ancient China.

Classroom ideas:

Why do we count? As you read the story, stop to discuss why the apprentice is unable to correctly count the beads. What solution does the apprentice develop? What sort of situations would people be required to keep a close count in society today? For example, farmers with stock, food packaging, banks/shops with money. Has anyone seen an abacus being used? Why is an abacus better than using tally marks.

Explore an abacus: Explore how an abacus works. As an art activity which relates to mathematics, create a modern version of Chuan’s counting frame with cardboard, pipe cleaners and beads. 

Counting Collections: Provide each pair of students with a different collection of objects (approx. 150 items) housed in a zip lock bag. Items could include buttons, counters, straws, yoghurt lids etc. Pose the question, ‘How will you count and arrange your items so that someone walking past can easily recognise how you reached your total?’.

Whether you’re introducing place value in Year 1/2 or revising the base ten system in Year 3/4, The Warlord’s Beads is an engaging way to combine story, history, and meaningful mathematics.

Information:
Ages: 6 - 9 
Format: Paperback
Dimensions: approx: 27.94 x 22.23