Objective:  As part of the Practical Life Exercises, the Jars and Lids work will teach and provide practice for the necessary skills for everyday life in a family, specifically the ability to remove and replace a lid.  Additionally, it hones the skills of discrimination between similar items as the lids can be quite close in diameter.  This skill (of careful discrimination) will later be applied to reading and writing as well as art and science.

Ages:  18 months - 2 1/2 years

Control of Error:  Each lid fits only one jar.

Presentation:  Place the Jars and Lids work on the left hand side of the rug.  Remove the jars and place them on the left side of the rug.  Select a lid from the basket and put it on the corresponding jar.  It is useful to show the child the innate control of error by putting a lid on an incorrect jar and then fixing it later when the last lid clearly does not fit the remaining jar.  When the work is completed, remove the lids from the jars and place all items in the basket and return it to the shelf.

            This work is particularly delightful to a very young child.  My 19-month-old is fascinated by this work and will play with it for nearly
            20 uninterrupted minutes.   Consequently, this is a very valuable part of our classroom and has the added bonus of being one of
            the easiest works to create.

Creating the Work:  This work is created by gathering four to six sets of jars and lids and placing them in a container.  Look in second hand stores and the homes of elderly neighbors or grandparents for supplies.  If all else fails, go to the grocery store and buy unusual containers - the mustard (and other condiment) section is a great place to look.