MAKING AN ABACUS:

ITEMS REQUIRED:

Picture frame-String- Thumb tacks or drawing pins-Beads or buttons

PROCEDURE:

Take a picture frame measuring 30cm long and 22cm wide. Cut 5 pieces of string long enough to cross the picture frame with an extra 7.5cm on each end for making knots. Fix 5 evenly spaced drawing pins along each side of the frame. Slide 7 beads or buttons on each string. Tie the end of one string to the first pin at either side of the frame. Continue tying the strings until you have tied all the five across the frame. On all strings, move 5 beads to the left side of the frame and 2 beads to the right side. Now take an additional piece of string more than twice the width of the frame to make the dividing string of the abacus. Tie the piece around the frame at the top about halfway across the frame. With the dividing string tied to the top of the frame, bring it down to the next sting and tie a knot. Continue down to the next string and tie another knot. Work down to the bottom of the frame until knots have been tied with all the strings. Then tie the string around the bottom of the frame. Now, your abacus is ready.