abacus-ever used one?

orbison11

when i was younger i was so enthralled with an abacus, i think now i might take up the challenge,

very interesting read on japanese children

any here ever learn about them?

wendy

shotgun

Nope...chewing tobacco totally grosses me out and I'd never let a child use it.

Vivamus

Never learned, but we did use to own one ... wonder what happned to it ...

orbison11

lol shotgun, if'n you ain't cowboy enuf:)
heck, i ain't know who is:)

wendy

Lehaa

i do remember using one at school when I was a kid, my son uses one at school too.

Never used one lately.

Leolaia

Here is one I took a picture of in Niko, Japan, a few weeks ago...

Country_Woman

lol: I did'nt know that divice is called an abacus.

Saw the first post - wondered what it was.

Saw Viv's comment that we used to have one - wondering where it was now.

So I took the telephon - asked her what it was (telraam in Dutch) and told her that it is still at the same place as usual.......ohhh......

For me it is only decoration......

undercover

Nope, never used one. But I did watch Jim Backus on TV as Mr. Howell and as the voice of Mr. Magoo. Funny guy.

Gerard

I had one as a kid, but it was not until high school that I learned it was a "calculating tool" and learned to use it just as general culture.

Learning to use an abacus (and having the kids make their own using craft supplies) is one of our projects for the summer. I wanted to learn to use one when I was their age, but it was more of a decoration than a tool.

I did a search on google and came up with a basic lesson plan on how to use an abacus, and another site with instructions on how to make one using popsicle sticks, wooden shish-kebab skewers, craft beads and some glue. It's our next rainy-day project.

Next year, I may try to figure out slide rules. If anyone has any pointers on that, I'll be happy to consider them.

Love, Scully

abacus-ever used one?

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