Rational of Sensorial Activities

The aim of sensorial materials is the education and refinement of the senses: visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, thermic, baric, sterognostic, and chromatic.

These activities assist the child in the development of his intelligence, which is dependent upon the organizing and categorizing of his sense perceptions into an inner mental order.

Again, you don't really need a prescribed set of materials to do this, it's impractical to buy the whole set of Montessori apparatus to educate your own kids.

"Metal" Insets

The metal insets are the first direct preparation for handwriting in a Montessori classroom. They are the most important material for establishing basic habits in handwriting that the child will retain for the rest of his or her life.

Prior to introducing the metal insets, extensive indirect preparation for handwriting is done through practical life materials and sensorial materials to establish order, concentration, coordination and independence in a child. In particular, the fine motor muscles developed through the three-finger grasp exercises, prepare the child for success in handwriting. The left to right, and top to bottom sequencing of the materials patterned the writing directionality.

Other than indirectly prepare for handwriting in the general development of order, concentration, corrdination and independence, the sensorial materials like knobbed cylinders and knobs on geometric cabinets insets also reinforced the three-finger-grasp required for grasping a pencil. The lightness of touch and the relaxed movement of the wrist is introduced with the tactile boards and the tactile tablets.

The metal insets consist of five curved-line figures and five straight-line figures:

(1) circle, ellipse, curvilinear triangle, oval, quatrefoil

(2) square, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, pentagon

Note: The metal insets is a language material, not an art material.

For lessons on metal insets:

http://homepage.mac.com/montessoriworld/mwei/Reading/insets/inset1.html

PLE - Presentation on Wrist Turning (12) Lids and Jars

Lids and Jars



Materials:
1. A tray/container that holds different size lids and jars
2. Felt table mats

Presentation:
1.Invite the child or group of children.
2.Go over to where the work is kept and take it to a table.
3.Place the tray/container of lids and jars on the table and to the left.
4.Place the two felt mats to the right of the basket.
5.Pick up one jar unscrew the lid.
6.Place the jar on top of the left mat.
7.Place the lid on top of the right mat.
8.Invite the child to do the next one. Watch him/her and if he/she can do it,say –“Come and get me when you’re all through”
9.When the child comes for you and has completed removing all of the lids from the jars say – “Now, let’s put them back on.”
10. Holding a jar with one hand and the lid in the other twist the lid back on and place it in the tray/container
11. Invite the child to do the next one. Watch him/her, and if he/she can do it, say – “Come and get me when you’re all through.”
12. When the child comes for you and has replaced all of the lids on the jars, return the tray/container and felt mats to their appropriate places.

Variations and Extensions:
1.Mix lids and jars

Points of Interest:
1.One lid for every jar
2.Look inside the jars

Control of Error:
1.Lids don’t fit the jars
2.Drop lids, jars, felt mats

Aims:
Eye hand coordination, concentration, control, ability to screw lids on jars, one-to-one correspondence, etc.

Age:
2 ½ and up

Language:
Lids, jars, screwing, loose, tight, empty, etc.

PLE - Presentation on Wrist Turning (8b) Grater - Crumbs

Grater -Crumbs

Materials:
A tray on a shelf/table containing:
1 Small plastic grater with a drawer that catches the shavings.
1 Stale dinner roll
1 Bowl

Presentation:
1.Invite the child or group of children.
2.Go over to where the work is kept and take it to a table.
3.Take the dinner roll, and using slow and careful strokes, grate the roll.
4.Open the drawer attached to the grater and empty the crumbs into the bowl.
5.Admire work.
6.Take the crumbs to where the food preparation for the day is at.
7.Take the grater over to wash.
8.Replace the tray with the clean grater and a bowl with another stale dinner roll to its proper place.
9.Invite a child.

Variations and Extensions:
1.Different graters
2.Different food to grate
3.Use the gratings for the snack table or to prepare food

Points of Interest:
1.Seeing how long it takes to grate rolls
2.Seeing the rolls take a different shape
3.Sound of grating

Control of Error:
1.Crumbs on the tray, floor, etc.
2.You grate your finger


Aims:
Eye hand coordination, concentration, control, ability to use a grater, preparation for cutting and writing, etc.

Age:
3 and up

Language:
Rolls, grate, strokes, crumbs, etc.

Practical Life Exercises - Presentation on Wrist Turning (9b) Grinding Potpourri

Grinding – Potpourri

Rational of Practical Life Exercises

Materials:
A tray containing:
Container of Potpourri
Container
Mortar and pestle
Spoon

Presentation:
1.Invite the child or group of children.
2.Go over to where the work is kept and take it to a table.
3.Put some potpourri in the mortar.
4.Take the pestle in one hand and grind the potpourri in the mortar.
5.Stop to rest a few seconds and start again.
6.Admire your work.
7.When you are finished use the spoon to put the ground up potpourri into the container that’s for the grounds.
8.Return the work to the shelf.
9.Invite a child.

Variations and Extensions:
1.Use different objects to grind
2.Crackers
3.Use different mortars and pestles

Points of Interest:
1.Seeing the size of the grounds
2.Seeing what hard work it is to grind something up
3.The wonderful smell
4.The pretty colors

Control of Error:
1.Big chunks of potpourri in the grounds
2.Bits of potpourri on the tray, table, floor

Aims:
Eye hand coordination, concentration, order, etc.

Age:
3 and up

Language:
Potpourri, mortar, pestle, grind, grounds, etc.