10/8/2026

Morning Announcements

Morning Meeting Agenda

Mon · Social Studies Tue · Literacy Wed · Science Thu · Math Fri · ROAR + Houses
Math of the Day

Doing math with knots!

The Inca empire stretched across Peru and the Andes mountains — and they kept all their records without writing. Instead they used the quipu (KEE-poo): bundles of cords where every knot was a number.

Long ago in the mountains of Peru, the Inca people counted using knots on strings. Each knot stood for one thing — like one llama, or one basket of corn!

A quipu with three cords showing three, five, and two knots

Count the knots on each cord!

Let’s talk
  • Let’s count the knots together on each string. Which cord has the most?
  • How many knots are there altogether on all three cords?
Reveal the answerHide the answer
The middle cord has the most with 5 knots. Altogether: 3 + 5 + 2 = 10 knots!
Try it

Make a finger quipu! Hold up one hand and pretend each finger is a knot. Show me 3 knots! Now 5! Now say “¡Quipu!” (KEE-poo) together!

The Inca had no alphabet, yet ran an empire of millions — tracking harvests, taxes, and populations entirely with quipus. Knots were tied in base-10 positions: the higher the knot on the cord, the bigger its place value.

A quipu cord showing hundreds, tens, and ones place value

What number does this cord record?

Let’s talk
  • Work it out: what number is tied into this cord?
  • Both the Inca and we use base-10. Why do you think so many cultures landed on ten?
  • How would you show zero tens on a quipu?
Reveal the answersHide the answers
The cord reads 253 — 200 + 50 + 3. Base-10 shows up everywhere because humans have ten fingers. And zero is shown by leaving that position empty — no knot at all, with careful spacing so the gap is obvious.
Try it

Design a quipu! On paper, draw a cord and tie in the number of students in our class using place-value knot groups. Then swap with a partner and decode theirs.

Additional Notes/Activities

If additional activities are needed for the Morning Meeting, they will be added here.