Material
Four wooden blocks each containing ten cylinders with knobs. The cylinders vary by ½ cm in each dimension.
- Height and diameter are varied, going from short and narrow to tall and wide
- These go the opposite way round: from talI and narrow to short and wide
- Cylinders vary in diameter only
- These vary only in height.
(a) Cylinders vary in height and diameter from short and narrow to tall and wide.
(b)Cylinders vary in height and diameter from tall and narrow to short and wide.
(c) Cylinders vary in diameter.
(d)Cylinders varying height.
Direct aim of the material
Visual discrimination of dimension.
Indirect aim of the material
Preparation for writing -control of movement, practise in how to hold a pencil,the understanding of connected language.
Control of error
In the material.
Age of great interest
From 2 years.
Teacher’s presentation
Having shown the child where the cylinders belong and their name, take Block A and place on the table. Sit on right-hand side of the child. Holding each cylinder knob in tum between the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand lift them out one at a time carefully and place them upright on the table in front of the block. Then carefully return each cylinder into its place.Point out the correct holding of the cylinders to the child. It is only necessary to present the first two cylinder blocks. The child will discover the remaining two for himself. When he has worked with all four separately,they are used together.When he is using all four together they are normally done on the floor.When using three place in a triangle formation. When using all four, place in a square.
Additional games
Take Block A (easier for a start).Get the children to put the cylinders in another part of the room. Point to one of the holes and ask a child to find the corresponding cylinder.Repeat with the other holes.Vary the blocks.
(Later) Language given
Small, large, tall, thick, thin, deep, etc., with comparatives and superlatives.