Montessori Cloth Folding Lesson Activity

AREA

Practical Life

AGE

3 to 3.5 years

MATERIALS

First square – stitches marking stitched line
Second square – stitches marking diagonal
Third square – stitches marking two stitched
Four square – stitches marking to diagonals

DIRECT AIM

Fold cloth along the stitches

INDIRECT AIM

Concentration
Preparation for geometry
Fine motor movements

PRESENTATION

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1. Begin work cycle
2. Place first square on work mat and smooth out.
3. Place stitches of cloth to run parallel to you body
4. Use index and middle finger of right hand and trace stitches left to right
5. Grasp bottom corners of cloth with both hands in pincer grip and fold cloth away from you so that corresponding corners meet.
6. Trace along stitching form left to right with index and middle finger of right hand
7. Using index and middle finger of right hand to pat along fold to create a crease.
8. Place Second Square on work mat and smooth out.
9. Place stitched line of cloth to run parallel to you body
10. Use index and middle finger of right hand and trace stitches left to right
11. Place index finger of left hand on left top corner of cloth the cloth to support the folding process.
12. Grasp bottom right of cloth with right hand in pincer grip and fold cloth away from you so that the top corresponding corners meet.
13. Trace along stitching form left to right with index and middle finger of right hand
14. Using index and middle finger of right hand pat along fold to create a crease.
15. Place third square on work mat and smooth out.
16. Place one of the stitched lines of cloth to run parallel to you body
17. Use index and middle finger of right hand and trace stitches left to right
18. Grasp bottom corners of cloth with both hands in pincer grip and fold cloth away from you so that corresponding corners meet.
19. Trace along stitching form left to right with index and middle finger of right hand
20. Using index and middle finger of right hand pat along fold to create a crease.
21. Place next stitched line of cloth to run parallel to you body. To do this turn the entire cloth around.
22. Use index finger and middle finger of right hand and trace stitches from left to right
23. Place left index finger on to left-hand side of cloth.
24. Grasp right hand corner of cloth in right hand in pincer grip and fold cloth away from your body so that corresponding corners meet.
25. Trace along stitching form left to right with index and middle finger of right hand
26. Using index and middle finger of right hand pat along fold to create a crease.
27. Place fourth square on the work mat and smooth out.
28. Place one of the stitched lines of the cloth to run parallel to you body
29. Use index and middle finger of right hand and trace stitches left to right
30. Place index finger of left hand on the left corner of the cloth to support the folding process.
31. Grasp bottom right corner of cloth with right hand in pincer grip and fold cloth away from you so that corresponding corners meet.
32. Trace along stitching form left to right with right index and middle finger.
33. Using index and middle finger of right hand pat along fold to create a crease.
34. Place the next stitched line of the cloth to run parallel to your body.
35. Use the index and middle finger of your right hand and trace stitches left to right.
36. Place left index finger on left corner of the cloth.
37. Grasp bottom right corner of cloth with right hand in pincer grip and fold cloth away from you so that corresponding corners meet.
38. Trace along stitching form left to right with index and middle finger of right hand
39. Using index and middle finger of right hand pat along fold to create a crease

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CONTROL OF ERROR

Stitches show if cloth is not folded correctly

EXTENSIONS

Folding table napkins, pillow cases, dish towels

VARIATIONS

Teaching vocabulary like meridian, diagonal, parallel
Folding different types of napkins
Doing Origami
Folding Fancy Napkins