Material
- 9 solid wooden geometric shapes; cone, sphere, pyramid, rectangular prism, triangular prism, ellipsoid, ovoid, cylinder, tube. These are painted dark blue, placed in a basket.
- a cloth
- Cards on which is painted the outline of the base of each geometric solid.
Direct aim
To develop the stereognostic sense, i.e. the simultaneous help of the tactile and muscular senses.
Indirect aim
Preparation for geometry.
Control of error
The teacher.
Age of interest
3-5 years.
Presentation
- Take the geometric solids from the basket and place them on the table. Setup the base cards on the table.
- With a three period lesson, introduce the shapes slowly, starting with those the child knows, i.e. cube. Sphere,cylinder. Let the child feel each shape thoroughly.
- Place the 3 solids in the basket and cover them with the cloth.
- The child puts his hands under the cloth and feels each solid in turn. When he is able to name one, he brings it out and sets it on its base card (which you will have set out previously).
- Repeat this until he is able to name all three and place these on their base cards..
- Gradually introduce more solids and their names by means of the three-period lesson, allowing the child to feel the shape each time. Increase the number of the shapes the child is able to recognise until he is able to recognise all 9 solids under the cloth.