Geometric Cabinet
From Montessori Album
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| Geometric Cabinet | |
|---|---|
| Sensorial - Visual Discrimination of Form | |
 | |
| Level | Primary |
| Age | 3 - 6 |
| Prerequisites | pincer grasp Knobbed Cylinders |
This activity teaches the child 2-dimensional geometric shapes and their names, preparing them for geometry.
Presentations
Introduction to the Shapes
- Take the presentation tray to a rug or table.
- Pick any shape and lift it out by the little knob with your subdominant hand.
- Hold the shape exposing the back side and run index and middle fingers counter-clockwise.
- Allow child to trace the shape.
- Place the inset in an adjacent square.
- Do the same with the other two shapes.
- Do a three period lesson on the names of the shapes.
- To replace the shapes, first trace one of the frames with your dominant hand in a counter-clockwise direction.
- Find the shape that matches and put back in place.
- Later, do other lessons with three shapes at a time.
Mixing and Replacing
- Take one of the drawers to a mat or table.
- Remove one of the shapes and trace the back as before.
- Place the shape below the drawer.
- Do the same with the other shapes in the drawer. Place them in mixed-up order.
- Trace the first frame as in the introductory lesson.
- Look for the shape that fits the frame.
- Trace the back of the shape.
- Place the shape in the frame.
- Replace the other shapes in the same way.
- Later, select two drawers and mix the shapes from both. Replace as was done with one drawer.
- Later, do the same with three drawers, then four. Eventually, the child may mix all six drawers together.
Video
Points of Interest
Control of Error
The shapes with only fit in the correct frames.
Variations and Extensions
- Have the child look for objects from the environment that are examples of each shape.
Materials
Make Your Own
- Free laser cutting plans on Thingiverse (includes patterns for cards)
- Free laser cutting plans for cabinet on Thingiverse
Where to Buy
Prices and links checked: 23 January 2022
| Geometric Cabinet | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $158.96 |
| Affordable Montessori | $189.00 |
| Alison's | $198.45 |
| Alison's premium |
$415.00 |
| Bruins | $513.00 |
| E & O | $268.20 |
| Hello Wood | $646.00 |
| IFIT | $158.00 |
| Kid Advance | $159.99 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $220.00 |
| Materials Co. of Boston cabinet only |
$120.00 |
| Montessori Concepts | $180.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $179.95 |
| Nienhuis | $511.50 |
| Thinkamajigs | $189.95 |
| Demonstration Tray | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $27.96 |
| Affordable Montessori | $42.00 |
| Alison's | $36.38 |
| Alison's premium |
$85.00 |
| Bruins | $615.00 |
| E & O | $43.20 |
| Hello Wood | $126.00 |
| IFIT | $30.00 |
| Kid Advance | $27.99 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $69.00 |
| Montessori Concepts | $37.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $38.95 |
| Nienhuis | $113.20 |
| Thinkamajigs | $42.95 |
| Cards | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $19.82 |
| Affordable Montessori | $29.00 |
| Alison's includes cabinet |
$55.12 |
| Alison's | $38.00 |
| Bruins | $43.00 |
| E & O includes cabinet |
$62.10 |
| Hello Wood | $37.00 |
| IFIT 9 cards |
$6.00 |
| IFIT | $22.00 |
| Kid Advance | $29.99 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $33.00 |
| Materials Co. of Boston 9 cards for demo tray |
$17.00 |
| Montessori Concepts | $9.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $1.95 |
| Nienhuis | $30.80 |
| Thinkamajigs | $34.95 |
| IFIT <span |
$2.00 |
| Kid Advance | $7.99 |
| Montessori Outlet | $12.95 |
| Card Cabinet | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $10.99 |
| Alison's | $50.00 |
| Bruins | $52.00 |
| E & O includes cards |
$62.10 |
| Hello Wood | $67.00 |
| Hello Wood trapezoidal shaped |
$90.00 |
| Kid Advance | $22.99 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $38.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $26.95 |
| Nienhuis | $64.00 |
| Thinkamajigs | $14.95 |
| 3 Section Card Box | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Affordable Montessori | $15.00 |
| Affordable Montessori | $15.00 |
| Alison's | $35.00 |
| Bruins | $28.00 |
| Kid Advance | $22.99 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $30.00 |
| Montessori Outlet shelves |
$12.95 |
| Montessori Outlet box |
$12.95 |
| Card Tray | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Alison's includes 9 cards |
$24.00 |
| Bruins | $93.00 |
| E & O includes 9 cards |
$6.30 |
| Montessori Outlet | $9.95 |
| Nienhuis with 9 cards |
$32.30 |
| Replacement Inset | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Control Chart | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Affordable Montessori | $9.00 |
| Alison's | $12.00 |
| Kid Advance | $7.59 |
| Montessori Outlet | $5.95 |
| Nienhuis | $18.90 |
| Thinkamajigs | $6.95 |
| Three-Part Cards | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $6.99 |
| Adena | $3.95 |
| Kid Advance | $7.99 |
| IFIT | $5.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $4.95 |
| Nienhuis | $15.90 |
| Thinkamajigs | $10.95 |
| Stencils | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Albanesi | $81.00 |
| Control Book | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Nienhuis | $20.00 |
| Beginning Labels | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Nienhuis | $12.80 |
| Advanced Triangle Labels | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Nienhuis | $11.15 |
| Activity Set | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Nienhuis | $61.90 |
Further Reading
- Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-fives by David Gettman, pages 84-88
- Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock, pages 63, 65, 108-109
