Remembering the Metal Insets

The Metal Insets are a series of shapes and frames designed to directly prepare the child's hand for writing.  I very much enjoy this activity in the classroom and appreciate the writing skills it helps develop specifically lightness of touch and keeping the pencil within limits.  As with other Montessori materials, a sequential order of further lessons are introduced to the child as each presentation is mastered.  This is where the little booklet I recently made comes in handy because I always forget the order!  The booklet, which displays the order of lessons for the Metal Insets, will be housed in a special location in the classroom. 

Here are the first four pages prior to assembling them together (apologies for the odd lighting...):

1.  Initial presentation;  2. Two Figures, Two Colors;  3.  Three Figures, three colors;  4.  One figure, two colors

The next four pages:

5. One shape, three positions;  6. Introduction of pastel (colored) paper;  7. Design;  8. Shading 

Here are the pages assembled with a binder ring...

...and here it is in its new home in our classroom.

Now, I have a handy reminder of the order of presentations while the children have an interesting booklet to leaf through!

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