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Meredith
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 11:39am | IP Logged
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Allright, how many of you have this and use it with your little ones?? My Sensorial List seems to be growing as I see a real need for this in my 2 yo ds and his ever-exploring mind. Is it just a different perspective than the Red Rods, Pink Tower, etc. I understand the Theories behind it, but just wonder if they actual DO *work* with this.
Thanks so much!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
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Angel
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 2:17pm | IP Logged
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My 4 yo (then a 3 yo) did work with the brown stair for a while, actually more than the red rods. Mostly he built towers with it, so that it was sort of along the same lines of the pink tower... but because you can build a really *tall* tower with these blocks, he liked them better, I think. (It actually is pretty impressive.)
I bought mine from Montessori Outlet. When we took it out of the box we weren't sure we wanted to let the kids use it, it was so beautiful.  Because it has to be made of a reasonably light wood, our blocks scratch really easily. Then the babies got hold of them, and well, they're kind of dinged up now. I had to put them in my closet to save them (nobody was actually using them at the time, except the babies), and haven't managed to get them out again. 
If I did it over again, I think I would rather have the brown stair than the red rods. Then again, I have *no* idea what the babies will want to use!
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Genevieve
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 3:23pm | IP Logged
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I made mine a year ago and they still play with it (2 and 4 year old). There are a few really cool extensions at NAMC! I think even older children might find it fun to make their own.....
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Genevieve
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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Its been on and off my list a thousand times!!! I think I'll have to forgo it for now, but I'd really like to hear from you guys too if you like it, how often it's used, how essential you think it is. I can maybe get it later in the year, or maybe, if you guys don't think it would be too hard, ask my dh if he'll make me a set.
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Jen Mackintosh
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MarieC
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 3:38pm | IP Logged
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Any tips on doing this?
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Marie
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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Thanks ladies for all your answers. Making one is out for me right now, dh traveling too much. Should I forgo the Red Stair Angela??? I'm afraid to do this and jump right into the Red and Blue Rods as they do seem to have a purpose  So many choices...
Genevieve, the extensions at NAMC are awesome  I never would have thought of doing that with them and the Pink Tower, now I have to get them
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Meredith
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 5:11pm | IP Logged
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Meredith,
Do you feel that either you, or your dh...or even a friend or family member can cut a few lengths of wood for you? As long as the wood is not warped, you can cut your own red rods. (Make sure it isn't treated wood though) Mine are home made. I can ask dh for advice, if you like. Then all you have to do is sand them and paint or stain with a child-friendly paint.
My children love our red rods. All of them use them for one application or another. They love to make a maze with them on the floor using the largest to the smallest size and then stepping carefully in it.
Like this
(just scroll down to the red rods picture)
We also made the smaller version with the square dowel pieces from Home Depot and a miter box. (again, check for warping...get the straightest ones you can find. They fit in my Math 1 tackle box and to make it more user-friendly, I painted one side the red and blue and the other I painted red...I know, not exactly what you are supposed to have, but until I can get around to making another set, I am making it work.
My Red rods, pink tower, broad stair and one block of knobbed cylinders, and the unoffical cylinders (the colored knobless ones that only have 7 instead of 10 per block) have seen a lot of use. (I really wish I could have gotten the 4 cylinder blocks but the $$ prevents me)...oh yes, I have even made replacements for the knobless cylinders with dowels. You can make them yourself if you know what diameter to buy...etc...It can be done without breaking the bank.
FWIW...One of my favorite books for making things is Montessori on a Limited Budget by Elvira Farrow. It even has a way to make a unique version of the geometry cabinet.
HTH!
God love you,
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
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Finding Elegant Simplicity
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 5:53pm | IP Logged
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Thanks so much Donna Marie for your insightful advice!! I am making as much as I can, I'm just not much for wood working But I'm glad to see the extension activities for the Red Rods, that looks so fun!!
Bless you!
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Meredith
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Angel
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 5:59pm | IP Logged
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Meredith,
I'm not sure I would say to forego the red rods entirely, especially if you think your dc would like to work with them. But I think it depends on who you're getting them for. If you want them for your 2 yo, I think you can put them off for a little while, whereas the pink tower and brown stair he would probably enjoy more right now, at this age. As Donna Marie says, I think the red rods would be pretty easy to make, if you could put it off until your dh was available to make them? (Unless that's unpredictable, the way it is at my house) One of the advantages I can see to making some of the wooden materials is that the older dc could help paint or sand, which might make the materials more special, in addition to being easier on your pocketbook.
If you have the budget for it, though, and you don't know if your dh will be able to help you with making them... I don't think I'd feel too guilty buying both. I was pressing my budget a little to get them and probably could have done without for a while. On the other hand, if I brought the rods out again tomorrow, I might get a totally different response from my dc. It depends so much on what each individual child is ready for, IMO, as to what you'll want to have now and what can be put off until later.
--Angela
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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The red rods seem like they would be alot easier and cheaper to make than the brown stair because you only need one size of materials that you simply cut to length.
I know the lengths, but what are the other dimensions of the red rods? Approx 2X2? Anyone have them and can measure them for me? I think I will make some when I get a chance.I'm pretty handy with a saw!
Remember also when you buy lumber, that the finished lumber sizes are smaller than rough sawn. For instance, a finished 2 by 4 is not really 2 by 4 inches, more like about 1 5/8 by 3 3/4. When in doubt, bring a tape measure to the hardware store to check actual dimensions.
Just a little tip, there! 
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Angel
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 7:04pm | IP Logged
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Theresa,
The red rods are metric. The smallest rod is one decimeter, and each rod increases by one decimeter in length. The largest rod is ten decimeters, or one meter, or 10 of the smallest rods.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 7:09pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
The red rods seem like they would be alot easier and cheaper to make than the brown stair because you only need one size of materials that you simply cut to length.
I know the lengths, but what are the other dimensions of the red rods? Approx 2X2? Anyone have them and can measure them for me? |
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Just for reference, here's the measurments at Shu Chen Jenny Yen's Math Album Pages
HTH!, and you are a much better craftsman than me my dear Go for it
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Meredith
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Genevieve
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| Posted: June 01 2007 at 9:09pm | IP Logged
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There are many ways you can do this. I made mine out of cardboard, filled it with rice, painted, and taped it together with packaging tape. It took about two hours of manual labor. My pink tower is made the same way and we can do the NAMC extension so it serves its purpose. My children sometimes literally walk up the stairs. It seems to re-enforce the idea. *grinz*
Lisia's version
Files from Montessori Makers yahoo group This is the template I used. You could use cardstock and forgo the rice. It would be lighter and might be harder for your child to stack the smaller pieces. BUT it would be easier to make a more precise cut. The child might not also equate weight with size. My widest broad stair is *heavy* and my children need both hands to carry it.
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Genevieve
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Brown/Broad Stair
