அபாகஸை சந்திக்கலாம்
Meet the Abacus
Say hello to the abacus! Learn the names of every part — frame, rods, upper bead, lower beads, and the dividing bar. You will be able to point to each part and tell what it does.
Let's Learn
What you will learn today
Learn the name of every part of the abacus — and what each part does.
Welcome to your first lesson! Today you will meet the abacus — one of the oldest and smartest counting tools ever made. People have used it for thousands of years, and it is still faster than many calculators! Let's explore every part together.
The Frame (சட்டகம்)
Look at the outer border of the abacus. This is the frame. It holds everything in place. Without the frame, the beads would fall off!
The Rods (தண்டு)
Inside the frame there are thin sticks running from top to bottom. These are called rods. Each rod holds a group of beads. Each rod stands for one column of numbers.
The Dividing Bar (நடு கோடு)
There is a bar across the middle that cuts the abacus into two parts. Above the bar is the top section. Below the bar is the bottom section. This is called the dividing bar.
The Upper Bead (மேல் மணி)
Above the dividing bar, each rod has exactly ONE bead. This is the upper bead. It is worth 5. We will learn more about this in Lesson 3!
The Lower Beads (கீழ் மணி)
Below the dividing bar, each rod has FOUR beads. These are called lower beads. Each lower bead is worth 1. Four lower beads = 4.
📐 Look at this abacus — it shows zero
This is a cleared abacus. All beads are pushed away from the dividing bar. Upper bead is pushed UP. Lower beads are pushed DOWN. The abacus shows zero. Always start here!
How to clear the abacus
Clearing means pushing all beads away from the bar. Upper bead: push it UP. Lower beads: push them DOWN. A cleared abacus always shows zero.
Easy to confuse
The upper bead is sometimes confused with a lower bead. Remember: there is exactly 1 upper bead ABOVE the bar, worth 5. There are 4 lower beads BELOW the bar, worth 1 each.
Your turn — show 0 (cleared)
Can you set the abacus to zero? Make sure all beads are away from the bar.
🎯 Goal: Show the number 0
Challenge Round
Name all 5 parts
Look at the abacus below. Without reading the lesson again, can you name all 5 parts? Try before clicking Check. The abacus shows zero — a cleared starting position.
🎯 Goal: Show the number 0
You now know all 5 parts: frame (சட்டகம்), rod (தண்டு), dividing bar (நடு கோடு), upper bead (மேல் மணி), and lower beads (கீழ் மணி). Great start! Next lesson: counting 1 to 4 with lower beads.
↪ Next: Lower Beads — Counting 1 to 4
Key Points
முக்கிய குறிப்புகள்
- ✓The frame holds everything together
- ✓Rods go up and down — each rod is one column of numbers
- ✓The dividing bar separates the top and bottom beads
- ✓Upper bead (1 bead above bar) = 5
- ✓Lower beads (4 beads below bar) = 1 each
Lesson Materialsபாட வளங்கள்
Download free — no login needed
Glossary
சொல் அகராதி
Frame
சட்டகம்
Rod
தண்டு
Upper bead
மேல் மணி
Lower bead
கீழ் மணி
Dividing bar
நடு கோடு
Practice Activities
Quizவினாடி வினா
Answer each question to check your understanding.
ஒவ்வொரு தண்டிலும் எத்தனை கீழ் மணிகள் உள்ளன?
How many lower beads are on each rod?
Match the Termsபொருத்துக
Click a term on the left, then click its matching definition on the right.
Click a term, then click its matching definition.
Terms
Definitions
Fill in the Blanksஇடைவெளி நிரப்புக
Type the missing word and press Check or Enter.
Type the missing word and click Check.