Each student abacus is made of a Re-Wood and therefore very sturdy and environmentally friendly. The beads are broken into sets of 5 which makes it easier for students to visualise groups of 5 and 10. It is an extended version of the Rekenrek, making it possible to use effective addition and subtraction strategies.
 
This abacus supports the natural development of number sense in children. Although it looks like a counting frame or abacus, it is used in a different way. Rather than counting to ten, this abacus promotes to count in 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.
 
Each rows of 10 beads is broken up in 2 sets of 5 beads; 5 red and 5 white beads. This allows students to develop strong addition and subtraction skills. Using 5 and 10 as anchors for counting, adding and subtracting is clearly more effective than counting by ones. It shows students a visual representation of number relationships and it will teach them to develop addition and subtraction strategies such as doubles plus or minus one, making tens, and compensation. These strategies will lead to automaticity of basic facts. The frame measures 25 x 17 x 4.5cm, ideal for desktop use. The beads measure 11mm, on metal rods.
 
The abacuses are produced out of ecological material RE-Wood. Re-Wood is an ecological alternative to plastic. The basic material is ground wood residues (from PEFC-certified sustainable forest management) as a waste product of wood processing and a natural binder (also an ecological waste product). With the two ingredients made from recycled materials, Re-Wood contributes to the environmentally safe management of waste materials. The wood – binder ratio is 80:20, using heat and pressure to form a wood-like mass in any shape imaginable.