Life A6.21. Carpentry -- Nuts And Bolts

Shu-Chen Yen's On-Line Montessori Albums

PRATICAL-LIFE DEVELOPMENT ALBUM

ELEMENTARY MOVEMENT

A6.21. CARPENTRY -- NUTS AND BOLTS

MATERIALS:

Tray; wooden block with bolts of varying sized permanently imbedded vertically in the wood and capped with corresponding nuts.

PREPARATION:

Materials ready; invite the child; name the activity; show the child where the materials are located.

PRESENTATION:

1. Place work on table with largest bolt on left side.

2. Grasp block with subdominant hand.

3. Place fingertips of dominant hand on nut on the left. Twist one complete turn. Remove fingers.

4. Repeat above step again until nut comes off.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 on each subsequent nut and bolt set until each nut is separated from the its bolt and placed it in front. Observe.

6. Take nut on left side in fingertips of dominant hand. Point to nut, then to bolt.

7. Place nut on top of bolt. Twist nut one complete turn. Remove fingers.

8. Repeat twisting movements in above step until nut is flush with board.

9. Repeat step 6-8 from left to right until all nuts are attached to the corresponding size bolt. Observe.

10. Replace work in proper location.

11. Invite child.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

1. Fail to replace work.

2. Use wrong size nut on bolt.

3. Fail to attach all nuts.

4. Fail to screw nut flush to board.

5. Unable to turn tight nut.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. Feeling threads on bolts.

2. Seeing nuts fit correct bolts.

3. Feeling weight, size and shape of nuts.

4. Seeing nut move down on top of bolt.

5. Being able to remove nuts & then replace nuts on bolts.

6. Seeing threads disappear in bolt.

DIRECT AIMS:

Small motor coordination, concentration, order, independence, eye-hand coordination, refinement of wrist movement, preparation for hand writing.

INDIRECT AIMS:

Matching hole to bolt size; feeling difference between tight and loose; learning to remove nuts, learning to replace nuts on bolts, preparation for other workshop activities.

AGE:

3.5 to 4.5 years

EXTENSION:

1. Use nuts and bolts of the same size but different lengths.

2. Use a wrench instead of hand.

3. Use basket with loose nuts and bolts of varying sizes.

4. Use bolts to connect two pieces of wood with pre-drilled holes.

5. Use basket with separate nuts and bolts that are color coded by size.