Article: This abacus really adds up.(Grades 3-8)(Brief article)

"The Romans often used an abacus--a counter--to do arithmetic problems," notes Rachel Dickinson in Tools of the Ancient Romans: A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Rome (Nomad Press, ages 9 and up, $14.95, nomadpress.net; available in bookstores nationwide). Here's how to build one in a snap:

Supplies: foam board (about 1/2 inch thick), tape, glue, ruler, X-ACTO knife, bamboo skewers, 60 craft beads in two colors (30 beads each), pen, and scissors.

1. Cut a rectangle from the foam board that measures 13 by 9 inches. Use your X-ACTO knife with caution.

2. Cut six strips of foam board--each 1 by 9 inches.

3. Glue ...

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