Life B3.2. Clothes Washing
Shu-Chen Yen's On-Line Montessori Albums

PRATICAL-LIFE DEVELOPMENT ALBUM

CARE OF PERSON

B3.2. CLOTHES WASHING


MATERIALS:

Table (long enough for all materials) apron, two rectangular wash basins, soap dish with soap, soap dish with sponge, towel, pitcher, scrub board, bucket, basket full of clothes, drying rack, with a mat underneath, basket with clothespins (material set-up at table).

PREPARATION:

Child has practiced pouring, hand washing, sponge squeezing and making bubbles. Materials are ready. Invite child. Name activity. Roll up sleeves. Get apron.

PRESENTATION:

1. Obtain pitcher. Bring to sink and fill with water.

2. Bring pitcher back to work area. Pour water into center of wash basin on left. Wipe spout with sponge.

3. Get water again and fill second basin on the right, as in above step.

4. Place pitcher on table, upper left corner.

5. Pick up scrub board and place it in the left hand basin. Place in water so it tilts away from you. (top with edge is near you)

6. Choose an article of clothing from wash basket under table.

7. Place clothing into water on left. Observe clothing absorb water.

8. Place clothing on scrub board.

9. Place soap on edge of scrub board. Turn clothing over and rub with soap.

10. Grasp clothes in two hands and rub gently on board, up and down. Observe suds forming.

11. Rinse clothing in water. Hold clothing above water and twist to remove excess water.

12. Place clothing in second wash basin on right. Rinse and swish clothing in water.

13. Wring clothes out again over second wash basin.

14. Bring clothes to drying rack. Smooth clothes out and spread on one rung.

15. Obtain one or two clothespins. Attach them to clothes on rack.

16. Repeat steps 6 through 15 for second article of clothes.

17. After washing two articles of clothes, tell child you are finished. Also tell them when they do this activity they may do more than two articles. Replace soap in dish when finished.

18. Get sponge. Wipe soap off scrub board. hold board above water with sub-dominant hand and wipe any drips from legs and bottom of board.

19. Replace scrub board on side of table. Replace sponge. Dry hands.

20. Pull bucket out from under table. Grasp left hand basin with two hand. Empty water into bucket, pouring from one corner. (Point to corner before pouring).

21. Replace basin. Wipe out basin with sponge. Squeeze sponge but over bucket. Replace sponge and dry hands.

22. Bring bucket to sink and empty. Rinse bucket if needed.

23. Bring bucket back to work area and empty next basin following steps 20 through 21.

24. Use sponge to wipe table top, sides of basins, and table edge. Squeeze out sponge. Dry hands.

25. Empty bucket at sink. Rinse bucket at sink, and wipe out. Replace bucket.

26. Check floor area and wipe up spills with floor towel.

27. Take off apron and replace.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

1. Spilled water.

2. Materials not restored to original state.

3. Wet clothing on self.

4. Bucket too heavy to empty.

5. Soap on clothes hanging up.

6. Clothes falling off rack.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. Carrying bucket and pitcher empty or full of water.

2. Emptying basins into bucket.

3. Wringing out clothes.

4. Scrubbing clothes up and down on board.

5. Sound and feel of rubbing soap on clothes.

6. Texture of soap, board, clothes and sponge.

7. Wetness and dryness of materials.

8. Hanging clothes up to dry on rack.

DIRECT AIMS:

Coordination, concentration, order, independence, eye-hand coordination, fine muscle control, and positive self image.

INDIRECT AIMS:

Learning to wash clothes, learning to rinse, twist and wring out clothes, learning to empty larger basins and buckets, and learning to care for dirty clothes and wash.

VOCABULARY:

Basin, pitcher, apron, soap sponge, scrub board, drying rack, clothespins, clothing, bucket, scrub, wash, rinse, wring, twist, smooth, empty, wipe, squeeze

AGE:

3 and up

VARIATIONS/EXTENSIONS:

1. According to space allocations this could be set up on shelf and taken out and set up by child when used, and replaced when finished.

2. Wash cloth napkins or placemats from snack or lunch.

3. Wash different kinds of ribbons.

4. Two children could work together. (Have two aprons.)

5. Use a large bucket under table and children do not empty it. Adult empties as needed.

6. Recycle dirty, soapy water and use only for clothes washing. Have a separate bucket for this water.

7. Wash doll clothes.


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