When you hear about Montessori, things that will pop into your mind are the practical materials and the philosophy of education. In an environment that applies the concept of Montessori, it is common to see children engage in a variety of materials and activities. One of the materials used in this type of environment is color tablets.
Montessori color tablets are an essential educational material used in Montessori schools and at home with children. The way it is presented makes it very interesting for children, and they enjoy playing with it. However, not everyone has an idea of how to prepare the color tablets. Luckily, this article will enlighten you on the way to present it. But before that, let’s first learn more about this educational material.
What Are the Montessori Color Tablets?
The Montessori Color Tablets are a traditional Montessori sensorial material and a popular Montessori manipulative. These are a “fan favorite” in schools, clinics, and at home; this is due to their attractive colors and their potential as a material for open-ended exploration.
The Montessori color tablets are 3 boxes of colored tablets with handles on the sides.
Box 1: three pairs of primary-color tablets
Box 2: Eleven pairs of primary and secondary color tablets, along with black, grey, pink, and brown.
Box 3: Nine sets of Seven tablets. Primary and secondary colors. The set also includes grey, black, pink, and brown.
The first two boxes are pairing activities, and the 3rd box is a grading activity. Kids are encouraged to use their imaginations to craft designs with the color tablets following the presentation and activity.
The Purposes of the Montessori Color Tablets
The Montessori Color Tablets are a renowned and highly valued educational material, especially in Montessori schools and at home. And these have several purposes.
- The primary one, also known as the “Direct Aim,” is to teach children to identify and discriminate between colors.
- Indirectly, the Montessori color tablets help kids develop a sense of visual order, improve children’s fine motor skills, and learn the value of grace and courtesy when dealing with classroom materials. The handles on the sides of the color tablets, for instance, help young kids both be mindful of keeping their hands off the colors and also nurture fine motor skills through physical interaction with them.
- The materials are used as an introduction to new concepts or vocabulary. For instance, children learn about the name of each color, making comparisons by saying which is light, lighter, and the lightest in a set.
What Age Can You Introduce the Montessori Color Tablets?
The Montessori Color Tablets are appropriate for preschoolers, elementary pupils, and also older learners who are still occupied with their lessons. You may present this material to them even before they start school or a class. However, it is advisable to introduce it at around 3 years old and beyond.
How Can You Present Montessori Color Tablets to Young Learners?
You already know the purpose of the Montessori color tablets, so the next thing you need to know is how to present them.
Before you present the Montessori color tablets, there is something to consider. The Color Tablets should not all be introduced in one lesson; instead, it is recommended to introduce one set of color tablets at a time. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to present this material.
For Box 1
- Demonstrate to your little one that the color tablets should be handled by their edges
- Place the tablets in no particular order on a table.
- Tell them, “I am going to match these colors.”
- Pick a red tablet and put it on a table in front of the kid.
- Let your little one see that you’re looking attentively for its match.
- Put the 2nd red tablet next to the 1st one, to its right.
- A pair of red tablets should be placed atop the table.
- You can follow these steps with the yellow and blue tablets as well.
- Take the matched pairs and show them to your child, one at a time. Tell him, “This is the pair because they have the same color.”
- Place the tablets in random order in the center of the table and invite your little one to try them.
For Box 2
- Put the tablets in no particular order on a table.
- Tell them, “I am going to match these colors.”
- Pick a red tablet and put it on a table in front of the kid.
- Put the 2nd red tablet next to the 1st one, to its right.
- A pair of red tablets should be placed atop the table.
- You can follow these steps with the yellow and blue tablets, making a column
- Continue pairing the remaining colors sequentially: purple, green, orange, brown, grey, pink, white, and black.
- Place the tablets in random order in the center of the table and invite your little one to try them.
For Box 3
- Randomly place the Montessori Color Tablets on a mat.
- Tell your little one that you’re going to order the color tablets.
- Look for the darkest tablet in a given set and put it on the left side of the mat.
- Look for the lightest tablet from the set and put it toward the right of the mat.
- Take the next lightest tablet and place it to the right of the darkest tablet, then continue until the colors are in the order from darkest to lightest.
- Repeat the process with each color set in the box
- Show your little one how each set goes from darkest to lightest.
- Put the tablets back in the middle of the table in no specific order and invite your little one to try this activity.
Extensions
There are lots of extensions you can do with the Montessori color tablets.
1. Your child can match the colors of the tablets to things around them, such as your favorite shirt or their favorite toy.
2. You can teach your little one to create a rainbow using the tablet. You may refer to a picture of a rainbow and ask your child to color in the matching colors.
3. To add some fun, you can provide children with a paper sun and have your child arrange the color tablet from lightest to darkest around the sun as its rays.
Final Thoughts
The Montessori Color Tablets are highly sought-after educational materials because it provides kids with a fun and meaningful way of getting to know colors, which in turn helps them solidify their knowledge and understanding.
Here at Montessori Academy, we have a variety of Montessori Sensorial materials in each room for kids to use. We aim to provide a fun and lively atmosphere where kids can learn through the practical application of materials. Montessori Color Tablets are just one of the many materials we use to facilitate the education of our students. Our goal is to nurture each child and help them reach their fullest potential. Suppose you are searching for a reliable Montessori preschool that will aid your child in achieving their goals and creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment. In that case, Montessori Academy can be one of your best options. Our friendly staff will be more than happy to answer any questions! You may connect with us by filling out our contact us form.
