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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 6:57pm | IP Logged
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What work are you ladies doing with these? I find them to be a lovely, but under-utilized material here.
So far we have done matching the shapes with cards, and a blindfolded feely bag activity. But that is about it.
Any ideas?
In the book "Montessori in the Classroom," Lillard mentions polishing the solids as a favorite activity. I think hers must have been natural wood finish, because I found myself wondering how would you polish bright blue painted wood? I also have a natural wood set, but they are unfinished and I'm not sure how you would polish them, either? Should I finish them somehow?
Any tips on this?
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Theresa
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Maryan
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Theresa -- I have unfinished wood too... and have been wondering the same thing! (Although I'm missing the ellipsoid and the ovoid -- they didn't come with my set). Fortunately they didn't cost very much at all... because I'm not sure what to do with them either! 
I got these last year... and the boys look at them from time to time -- match shapes... but that's it here too.
Interested to know what else you could do with these. It does help if something comes up to pull them out... but that's once in a blue moon too!
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Maryan
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AndreaG
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Marianne had some good ideas on her blog:
http://mariannedan.typepad.com/learning2love/2007/10/geometr ic-solid.html
Geometric solids extensions
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
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I have just set these out Theresa. The kids are just finishing mastering the names. I confess, I too was wondering just how Lillard polished the bright blue solids? I have the blue solids, as well as the unfinished set of wooden solids minus the ellipsoid and ovoid.
For my 11yo, I am hoping to work a little with taking some volume measurements.
For my 7yo, I'm just hoping for some shape/name recognition. I was thinking of the mystery bag game. Also, the bring me the "x" shape, and can you find a square based pyramid anywhere in the house?
My 3yo just likes holding them and calling them "pwetty."
I am thinking of setting the unfinished wooden set out for polishing on a tray, and I'll tell you why. My 7yo is greatly in need of motor skill refinement, and holding the cone for instance, while holding a polishing cloth in the other hand, I think would help him in particular with just focusing on two hands working together on a particular task.
I was just going to set out some mineral oil in a small bottle to use for the polishing exercise - non-toxic, and safe for unfinished woods.
I'd love to hear how others are extending these solids from the purely sensorial.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Fe2h2o
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 11:35pm | IP Logged
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*grin*
Puggle got a set of unfinished solids for Christmas, it had the elliptoid, but not the ovoid (fortunately, my dad is a wood turner, and has turned eggs before:-) ).
I used some of dad's beeswax polish (I think it's beeswax with a little turpentine, to make a wood polish?) and rubbed that over them. I have a child-sized Enjo polishing glove (hmm... can't show you it... their site seems really broken:-( IF you get a chance to go to an Enjo party, it's the yellow glove, but I have the chlid-sized one) which we used to buff them up (in reality, I did most of it... I'm still not really 'switched on' to the Montessori approach— didn't _think_ to set it up as the work associated with it! I was just wanting it done so it would be _read_ to work with!) Beeswax polish is a nice finish to work with:-)
At the moment, (because they are new) they're pretty much sitting in their tub, and both children occasionally get them out. Puggle will ask me what they are, and the'll both try putting the sphere/ovoid/elliptoid on the stands (also didn't come with the set, but dad made:-) ) So, I'll join those interested in seeing what others are doing:-)
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Angel
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 7:51am | IP Logged
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My little ones build with the solids. Nothing teaches you the differences between a rectangular prism and a sphere like trying to set the sphere on top of a tower!
My older kids don't really do too much with the solids, though, beyond being mildly interested while the little ones are building.
I also just give my 2 yos a soft rag to polish them with. (They're painted.) I guess technically it's not polishing since there's no polish, but it hasn't seemed to really matter for them.
--Angela
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happymama
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You didn't mention bases, but I assume you've matched them to bases?
Also Basic Montessori (the first Montessori book I read!) suggests rolling each of the shapes in a tray of sand to see the different tracks that they each make. I've been meaning to try this.
Also, 3-part-cards of the names for a child who is reading.
My oldest enjoys trying to find a particular one in a bag - but with my 3yo I'm also going to show him how to sit at a table, put on a blindfold, and pick one up out of a basket and just enjoy feeling it!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 12:34pm | IP Logged
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So thanks to the inspiration here, today we had a great time with the solids!
We started off with simple naming.
Then we did the blindfolded feely bag.
Then we did matching to bases.
Then the littles had a great time making "castles" by matching the three prisms with the 2 pyramids and cone.
I'll have to try some of the other suggestions tomorrow!
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Mackfam
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happymama wrote:
Also Basic Montessori (the first Montessori book I read!) suggests rolling each of the shapes in a tray of sand to see the different tracks that they each make. I've been meaning to try this.
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I love this idea! I think I might try to set up a tray next week. What a wonderful idea - thanks!
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Jen Mackintosh
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happymama
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| Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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We're currently borrowing a book from our library that is great to read with a basket of geometric shapes handy!
I Spy Shapes in Art
This is a book I'll add to my wish list!
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Geometric solids
