Life C3.6. Folding
Shu-Chen Yen's On-Line Montessori Albums

PRATICAL-LIFE DEVELOPMENT ALBUM

CARE OF ENVIOMENT

C3.6. FOLDING


MATERIALS:

Tray with same sized squares of materials, (5 squares) each square of material has different stitched on lines.

PREPARATION:

Child has used some of the small muscle activities, such as pouring, peg boards, knobbed puzzles etc. Invite child. Name activity. Show child where material is located.

PRESENTATION:

1. Carry tray to table and sit down.

2. Remove first napkin from tray. Observe it.

3. Using index finger of dominant hand, trace stitched line, left to right.

4. Using index and thumbs of both hands, pick up top corners of material and match to bottom corners and edges.

5. Now smooth folded edge with dominant hand, moving left to right. Observe work.

6. Slide this folded napkin up to upper left side of table.

7. Repeat above steps 2 through 6 for remaining napkins. Always trace and smooth folds left to right. (This means you will have to turn many napkins to get fold line in correct place.)

8. Place folded napkins one at a time as finished, in a row left to right across top of table.

9. Slide napkin down from upper row, starting on right.

10. Unfold napkin and place on tray. Smooth out.

11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for each napkin. ( Move napkins down right to left.)

12. Replace work, on shelf. Invite child to repeat.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

1. Not using stitched lines to make folds.

2. Materials not restored to original state.

3. Edges not matched.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. Folding napkins along stitched lines.

2. Feeling raised stitches.

3. Color and texture of material.

4. Noticing different shapes made when folding.

5. Noticing different stitched lines.

6. Unfolding napkins.

7. Using index finger to trace lines.

8. Smoothing out a fold.

DIRECT AIM:

Coordination, concentration, independence and order.

INDIRECT AIMS:

Learning to fold napkins, learning different kinds of folds, indirect preparation for folding aprons, and other towels and mats in environment.

VOCABULARY:

Tray napkin, fold, press, smooth, stitching lines. unfold

AGE:

3 and up

VARIATIONS/EXTENSIONS:

1. Basket of napkins that have a all the same folds, so child can master one kind of fold at a time.

2. Iron folds.

3. Fold napkins for day for use with snack or lunch.

4. Use stiff cloth napkins for fancy restaurant napkin folds.


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