Montessori Geometric Tray Lesson Presentation

MATERIALS:

1. Presentation tray, 3 insets. A square, a circle, an equilateral triangle.

2. Geometric Cabinet.

Drawer 1: 6 circles

Drawer 2: 6 rectangles

Drawer 3: 6 triangles

Drawer 4: 6 polygons

Drawer 5: 4 curved figures

Drawer 6: 4/6 quadrilaterals

OBJECTIVES:

To make the child familiar with, and to teach him the appropriate geometric names for the various geometric shapes.

To make the child aware of the geometric shapes that are found in the every day environment.

Preparation for Geometry.

Preparation for reading and writing.

Co-ordination of Movement.

CONTROL OF ERROR:

There is a socket for each inset in the tray in the cabinet.

There is a card for each inset.

AGE:

3 plus years.

PRESENTATION 1:

This is an individual exercise done at the table.

Bring the Presentation Tray to the table and sit on the right hand side. The child sits on your non-dominant side.

Remove the insets slowly and gracefully by grasping the little white knob. Place them on the plain wooden spaces opposite, so that there appears to be 2 squares, 2 circles and 2 triangles. With the fleshy tips of your fingers feel the entire edge of the inset in one continuous movement, starting at the near bottom corner and moving anti -clockwise. Gently place the inset down and with the same fingers as before, feel the entire inside edge of the space in that inset’s frame, in one continuous movement. Again, start at the far left-hand corner and move anti-clockwise. Pick up the inset and by your facial expression show that you have affirmed the shape in that they both feel the same.

In one smooth, continuous movement, replace the inset into its frame.

Repeat this process for the other 2 shapes in the Presentation Tray.

EXERCISE 1:

The child works with the exercise as presented.

EXERCISE 2:

Show the child how to remove, carry and replace drawers in the Geometric Cabinet. Begin with the circle drawer. Invite the child to work with the top drawer treating it just like the Presentation Tray. Place the insets in front of the tray. With the fleshy tips of your fingers feel the entire edge of the inset in one continuous movement, starting at the near bottom corner and moving anti-clockwise. Gently place the inset down and with the same fingers as before, feel the entire inside edge of the space in that inset’s frame, in one continuous movement. Again, start at the far left-hand corner and move anti-clockwise. Pick up the inset and by your facial expression show that you have affirmed the shape in that they both feel the same.

In one smooth, continuous movement, replace the inset into its frame.

On another day, invite the child to work with the second drawer, and so on working with each drawer in succession.

Exercise 1:

The child works through all the drawers of the cabinet one by one.