Montessori - Geometric Metal Insets for Design

Materials

 - Two stands with a slopping back and a narrow cornice at the bottom on which rest ten metal frames with matching metal insets. The square frames are pink and the insets are blue. In the corner of each inset is a knob by which to hold it.

- The insets are square, triangle, circle, rectangle, oval, trapezoid, pentagon, curvilinear triangle, and quatrefoil. They are exactly the same measurements as the wooden insets of the geometric cabinet.

Notes

 Work should not be rushed.

• Each stage of Exercises should be done well, before introducing the next stage.
• The series offers a great variety of possibilities, and this sustains the child’s interest.
• They enjoy making booklets at every stage of the work
• Metal inset works reveals the measure of normalization in the individual child and in the classroom as a whole.
• Work with insets is sometimes done carelessly, or used as busy work. Children use it to avoid other work. If there is great misuse, they should be taken out of the class for a while. They can then be introduced later with great attention to the care of use.
• Be sure to write the child’s name on the finished work, if child is not yet writing. (Most will not be writing in the beginning Exercises.)
• Occasional, the afternoon class can all do insets all together. Beautiful music can be played as a background to this work.
• Save a sample of the child’s work from time to time. This will show the child’s progress and will be useful in parent conferences.

Points of Interest

Child will learn how to grip and guide the writing instrument.
He will experience the effects of pressure on the pencil.
The very great variety of movements involved in this work, helps the child with control of the writing movements but also with changing directions.
Keeping the point of the pencil on the edge of the frame or the inset, helps the child steady his strokes. The movements will go from left to right.
The child can learn to make one continuous stroke. This is particularly helpful in cursive script, but some letters in modified print call for it.
This work demands eye-hand coordination.

Presentation 1: Double Outline

1. Assemble the material: the tray, the pad or board placed on the left side of the tray, place the paper onto the pad, choose an inset and place it on the right part of the tray, place the frame on top of the paper and the inset inside of the frame, and choose a pencil holder.
Place the pencil holder on the right side of the tray and then choose two pencils.
2. Bring material to the table.
3. Teacher will demonstrate: take the pencil holder with the pencils out, take out the inset and place it to the right of the tray, place the frame to the right of the paper, take the paper and board and place it in front of you.
And finally, place the frame on top of the paper.
4. Select a color pencils, and show the child that we start the tracing at the bottom of the frame while holding the frame steady with your left hand.
Then trace around the frame, making sure the pencil touches each corner and changes direction each time.
5. Replace the pencil, put frame on tray, and observe the square that was drawn.
6. Cover the square with the inset, use the other color pencil and trace around the inset, keeping the point of the pencil always against the inset and changing directs.
7. Replace inset on try.
8. See the double outline
9. Set the finished inset drawing to the side, place materials in front of child, ask child to draw the double outline.
10. Child does as shown by the directress.
The child can be encouraged to repeat on the backside of the paper.
11. Child's finished product has name and date written on it.
12. Tell child to place finished work in the box.
13. The child is encouraged to take another piece of paper and to continue the work.
14. Once finished, put work away.
Replace the pad, with the frame, then inset into frame, pencil and pencil holder to the right.
15. At shelf, replace pencils, pencil holders, remove the inset and place on try, put frame up and inset in. Replace board/pad.

Exercice 1

Child works with any of the ten insets as shown in the presentation. (At some point, you can suggest making a booklet of all of double outline.) 

Exercice 2: Double Outline Filled in

Stage A: Lines far apart
Stage B: Lines closer together (progressively)
Stage C: Completely filled in (this should go on for a long time)

Art Variation:            Single Outline- Insets only (one colored pencil) 

Exercice 3: Dark and Light (Pressure)

Stage A: Half dark and half light 
Stage B: From dark to light progressively

Trace inset as before and illustrate for the child how strong pressure produces a strong mark and a light pressure produces a light mark.
Later show the child how he can begin with strong pressure and progressively lighten the pressure to create a lighter color.

Exercice 4: Two contrasting figures (two pencils)

Trace two insets of contrasting shapes on top of each other. 
Then color one shape with one colored pencil, and the rest of the other shape with the other colored pencil.

Exercice 5: One figure - two ways (two pencils)

Trace one inset two times in two different directions.
Color one shape in completely in one color.
Color the rest of the second shape in a different color.

Exercice 6: Three contrasting figures (three pencils)

Choose three different insets and trace them one over the other using three different colored pencils.

Exercice 7: One figure - three ways (three pencils)

Choose one inset and trace it in three different directions.
Fill in one of them in completely in one color.
Fill in the rest of the second with the second color pencil.
Fill in what is left of the third with the third color pencil.

Exercice 8:

Designing – use lead pencils for tracing and several colored pencils to fill in.

Art extensions

1. Use two colors to make another (paper on color; pencil another).
2. Cut out the figures and paste it on a page.
3. Make booklets.

Purpose

Direct
To acquire mastery of the hand in using a writing instrument. 
Direct preparation for writing ONLY.

Indirect
To learn to make designs 

Control of Error
To keep within the outlines

Age 
4-6 years