Life A2.1. Grasping

Shu-Chen Yen's On-Line Montessori Albums

PRATICAL-LIFE DEVELOPMENT ALBUM

ELEMENTARY MOVEMENT

A2.1. GRASPING

MATERIALS:

Tray, two bowls, noodles

PREPARATION:

Materials are ready. Invite child, Show where materials are located Name activity.

PRESENTATION:

1. Take materials to table. Sit. Observe work.

2. Open dominant hand, palm down and flat over bowl on left.

3. Lower hand, and curl fingers around noodles making a fist.

4. Move hand up and over to right.

5. Lower hand. Release noodles into bowl.

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for remaining noodles.

7. Pick last noodles with three finger grip and place in bowl on right. Observe work.

8. Check tray and table for spilled material.

9. Turn tray. Repeat. (Child can repeat as often as desired.)

10. Replace work.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

1. Noodles left on tray, table and/or floor.

2. Broken bowl.

3. Using both hands.

4. Noodles left in both bowls.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. Appearance of materials (texture, shape, color, size, smell etc.)

2. Sound of noodles falling into bowl.

3. Grasping motion, opening and closing hand.

4. Texture and appearance of noodles.

5. Appearance of bowls.

6. Seeing one bowl empty then full.

DIRECT AIMS:

Coordination, concentration, order, independence, developing fine muscles, developing eye- hand control.

INDIRECT AIMS:

Learning to transfer material from one place to another, using hand to transfer material, preparation for other practical life materials using dominate hand.

VOCABULARY:

Bowls, tray, noodle, pasta, hand, empty, full open, close, grasp.

AGE:

2.5 to 3.5 years old.

VARIATIONS/EXTENSIONS:

1. Using different materials besides noodles. (e.g. - acorns, nuts, cotton balls, smooth "Japanese" stones, pebbles, buttons, small smooth pine cones)

2. Using different types of bowls, (wood, glass, baskets, boxes, large bowls, deep bowls)