"How Did Numbers Begin?"

"1. Matching could have been the first important step in the story of numbers.
2. The second important step in the story of numbers might have come about from matching. It is these three ideas: "as many as," "less than," and "more than."
3. The third step in the story of numbers also probably came from matching. It is the naming of numbers.4. Numbers must be put into their proper order.
5. Last of all in our story of numbers: counting."
-How Did Numbers Begin? by Mindel and Harry Sitomer

"Imagine that you are living at a time when your people have just learned to tame wild animals. They drive their herds out to pasture each day. Since they need these animals for food and clothing, it is important not to lose any. You are the herder. You know nothing about numbers, and you cannot count. What can you do to make sure all your animals are back each night? You might use a scheme like this: You put down a pebble for each animal as you drive 


it out to pasture. Later, you pick up a pebble for each animal that returns." -How Did Numbers Begin? by Mindel and Harry Sitomer, p. 6. 




 

 

"If you have one or more pebbles left over when your animals are back, you know you have to go out to look for the strays. If you have one or more animals and no pebbles left to match them, you know you have a bigger herd than you started with."-How Did Numbers Begin? by Mindel and Harry Sitomer, p. 9.



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