1. Candace Attwood

2. Many different places use some form of the abacus, including: Russia Egypt Rome Germany China Japan Greece United States Different kinds of abaci include Suan Pan (China) Soroban (Japan) Schoty (Russia) Nepohualtzitzin (Aztec civilisation) Among others

3. The word ‘abacus’ is said to have originated from either the Hebrew or Latin languages: ‘abaq’ is Hebrew for ‘dust’ (as calculations were performed in the dirt or with stones) ‘abax’ is Latin for ‘table’ (derived from the Greek) In the Asian countries, ‘soroban’ and ‘suan pan’ both mean ‘calculating board’.

5. *Watch Candace demonstrate using her homemade soroban

6. Easier for kids to learn more about: Place value Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction Different Cultures

7. Abacus is a means to represent numbers in a different manner. Kids can manipulate objects to make learning some concepts easier. Kids can learn how to do mental math easier (learn how to utilise ‘imaginary abacus’).

8. Awesome video showing a math class in Japan, and use of their ‘imaginary abacus’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIiDomlEjJw

9. Chen, C., Wu, T., Cheng, M., Huang, Y., Sheu, C., Hsieh, J., et al. (2006). Prospective demonstration of brain plasticity after intensive abacus-based mental calculation training: An fMRI study. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A, 569(2), 567-571. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TJM-4KY8785- C&_user=2665553&_coverDate=12%2F20%2F2006&_rdoc=92&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc- info(%23toc%235314%232006%23994309997%23638329%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5314&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=110&_acct=C00 0058484&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2665553&md5=e66f2cab7e75bb0c8cc4d1d7c7491350 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TJM-4KY8785- C&_user=2665553&_coverDate=12%2F20%2F2006&_rdoc=92&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc- info(%23toc%235314%232006%23994309997%23638329%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5314&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=110&_acct=C00 0058484&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2665553&md5=e66f2cab7e75bb0c8cc4d1d7c7491350 Krampner, J. (1993). Ancient abacus: Elegant, accurate, fun to operate. DollarSense, 10. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=15&sid=5b257588-6dad-4f37-8a64- 94167df57c5b%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9403117506 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=15&sid=5b257588-6dad-4f37-8a64- 94167df57c5b%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9403117506 Chen, F., Hu, Z., Zhao, X., Wang, R., Yang, Z., Wang, X., et al. (2006). Neural correlates of serial abacus mental calculation in children: A functional MRI study. Neuroscience Letters, 403(1/2), 46-51. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=%23TOC%234862%232006%23995969998%23626902%23FLA%23&_cdi=486 2&_pubType=J&_auth=y&_acct=C000058484&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2665553&md5=c6162b5319193a8c9ab0a89420d2be68 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=%23TOC%234862%232006%23995969998%23626902%23FLA%23&_cdi=486 2&_pubType=J&_auth=y&_acct=C000058484&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2665553&md5=c6162b5319193a8c9ab0a89420d2be68 Irwing, P., Hamza, A., Khaleefa, O., & Lynn, R. (2008). Effects of Abacus training on the intelligence of Sudanese children. Personality & Individual Differences, 45(7), 694-696. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1334792426&_sort=v&_st=17&view=c&_acct=C00005848 4&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2665553&md5=b4a1685a5c01934f9b657f2c696266fb http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1334792426&_sort=v&_st=17&view=c&_acct=C00005848 4&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2665553&md5=b4a1685a5c01934f9b657f2c696266fb Naylor, M., & Naylor, P. (2001). Building and Using the Amazing Abacus. (cover story). Teaching Children Mathematics, 8(4), 202. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=14&sid=92688b19-d6ff-4b9d-94e5- 37773683ee20%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=tfh&AN=5569296 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=14&sid=92688b19-d6ff-4b9d-94e5- 37773683ee20%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=tfh&AN=5569296 http://www.tertisco-alexandru.com/images/abacus-parts.gif http://www.cut-the-knot.org/blue/Abacus.shtml