Montessori Practical Life Starter Pack

Montessori Practical Life Starter Pack

A set of 16 activities for the Practical Life area, which can be presented as described below, or to augment your existing activities.

Suggestions

1 Simple Dry Pouring

2 small jugs (for beans, lentils, macaroni, etc, not included)

Pour dry ingredients from one jug to another, vary the contents to maintain interest and change complexity

2 Simple Wet Pouring

2 small jugs (for coloured water, not included) Pour liquid from one jug to another

3 Large to Small Pouring

2 small jugs and one large jug (containing lentils or water, not included)

Pour from large jug into the 2 smaller jugs, from both small jugs to larger jug

4 Pouring through a Funnel

Large jug of (coloured) water, (not included,) funnel, carafe

Pour from jug into carafe using funnel (extend difficulty by drawing a fill line on the carafe)

5 Pouring to measure

glass jug, measuring jug

You may want a card in the tray stating the amount of water to be measured , not included

6 Simple Transferring 2 bowls, scoop, (beans, pasta etc, not included)

Spoon the ingredients from one bowl to the other. (can also be done by hand and with various other spoons and ingredients)

7 Sponge Transferring

Transferring dish with 2 compartments, natural sponge

soak up the water from one side and squeeze into the other using 3-fingered grip

8 Baster Transferring

2 glass tumblers, baster

squeeze up coloured water from one glass and release into the other 

9 Pipette Transferring

2 shot glasses, pipette

squeeze up coloured water from one glass and release into the other

10 Syringe Transferring

2 shot glasses, syringe

squeeze up coloured water from one glass and release into the other

11 Ball transferring

Tongs, 2 bowls, 6 cotton balls

use the tongs to pick up the balls and transfer into the other bowl 

12 learning chopsticks

Training chopsticks, corn puffs, egg holder, bowl

use the chopsticks to pick up the puffs and transfer onto the egg holder, and return to bowl

13 rolling dough

Rolling pin, kilner jar (for playdough, not included) pastry cutter, board

roll out the dough, cut out some shapes, knead back into a ball and return to jar to keep it fresh

14 pestle and mortar

2 spice jars (for coriander seeds, not included), bowl, pestle and mortar, spoon

spoon some seeds into the bowl, grind and put into other jar, vary ingedients to be ground - eg. wheat to flour

15 Lacing beads

Coloured lace, 10 beads in two colours, bowl

thread beads onto lace

16 Laying the table

Plate, cutlery, glass, place mat

Roll out the mat lay the place setting, return to tray.

All activities supplied with trays.

Suggestions for additional items needed:

dried beans, lentils, macaroni, playdough, coriander seeds, coffee beans, food colouring, small sponge cloths.

Of course, these are only suggested activities and you can mix and match the items as you wish. We'd love to see your own ideas.

Get inspired for alternative activities with videos and photos here.

PLEASE NOTE: This pack contains real kitchen items not toys, some of which are made from glass. They are only for use under the supervision of an adult, and you should assess the risk posed each time they are used.

Includes 6:small glass jugs; 3:large glass jugs; 1:funnel; 6:bowls; 1:pestle and mortar; 1:small glass; 1:measuring jug; 1:wide necked kilner; 1:divided dish; 1:plate; 1:glass carafe; 4:shot glasses; 2:spice kilner jars; 1:cutting board; 2:glass tumblers; 1:egg holder; 1:mat; 1:baster; 1:rolling pin; 1:cutlery set of knife fork and spoon; 1:scoop; 1:tweezer tongs; 1:teaspoon; 1:syringe; 1:training chopsticks; 10:beads; 1:lace; 15:plastic trays; 1:pastry cutter; 6:coloured maize pellets; 6:cottonwool balls; 1:natural sponge; 1:pipette and 1 wooden tray.

WARNING: Not suitable for 0-3 years - Small Parts: Choking hazard.