Ice cube trays can be beneficial in Montessori practical life, as they allow for thematic activities, as well as variety in the materials. Try some of these activities, to promote the five direct aims of the Montessori practical life area.
Types of Ice Cube Trays
Those colorful ice cube trays are available in abundance at many of your favorite retailers. During the various holiday seasons, you can also find novelty ice cube trays. Check seasonal sections of national retailers, as well as dollar stores for them
Coordinate these fun ice cube trays with the holidays or other thematic units. You can also tweak the contents to fit your different themes.
Hand Transfer with Ice Cube Trays
In hand transfer activities, the child will move items from a bowl into the ice cube tray. Then, he will remove them from the tray, back to the bowl. The advantage of doing hand transfer into ice cube trays, is that they require the child to use the pincer grasp to remove the items.
Experiment with different types of items to transfer. Pom poms are squishy, making them easier to grasp. Beads are hard, which can make them more likely to drop. Both require great dexterity to control.
The hand transfer activities with ice cube trays also allow for matching and sorting. Use two different colors and sort them along one side. Put in pairs of objects, and the child can match them on opposite sides.
Using Tongs with Ice Cube Trays
Tongs are the best kitchen tool to use for transferring items into ice cube trays. The shape of wooden tongs, ice tongs, strawberry hullers, and tweezers allow the child to easily place and remove items. Scissor tongs and spoons are too large to fit inside the compartments.
Pom poms continue to be an easier item to use with the tongs. When choosing beads, look for smaller ones, or those that have easily grasped shapes. Think of those tri-beads or cogwheel beads that have little arms sticking out, requiring a finer pincer grasp.
Water Work with Ice Cube Trays
Children can practice pouring into ice cube trays, though pouring the water back into the pitcher can be tricky. It can be done, with great control and slow movement, but keep plenty of sponges on hand!
Use a baster to transfer water from a bowl into the ice cube tray, then back into the bowl. A larger baster will require less time than a smaller one or an eyedropper. Use the eyedropper for more prolonged concentration.
Sponge transfer can also work with ice cube trays. Cut a sponge square that will fit inside one of the compartments. Use it to transfer water from a bowl into each compartment, then return the water to the bowl.
Using ice cube trays in the Montessori practical life area allows for the child to work on fine motor skills, as it requires dexterity to place and remove items from the compartments. They can be reused with a variety of items for transferring, and different tools that require the pincer grasp.
TLE101
Andrea Coventry - Andrea Coventry is a Montessori child, now Montessori educator, with 25 years' experience with children, publishing online since 2007.
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