Knobless Cylinders
Objective: The knobless cylinders
teach the child to be aware of and discriminate between various
dimensions. This is an indirect preparation for reading through
learning to recognize the sometimes subtle differences between
different letters and working from left to right. Motor skills
for writing are also honed, particularly when placing the thin
cylinders in the appropriate spot.
Age: 18 months - 3 years
Control of Error: Cylinders will fit only in intended holes in each color set. The last cylinder will not fit into the block correctly if a mistake has been made.
Presentation: Roll out a rug. Retrieve the green (or red or yellow or blue) set of knobless cylinders from the shelf and place on the left side of the rug. Remove each cylinder and randomly place it on the right side of the rug. Replace the cylinders in their respective holes. Run your finger across the top of the cylinder block and notice that the tops of the cylinders are flush with the top of the cylinder block. (This step is particularly important when working with the blue cylinders.) Return the cylinder block to the shelf. Roll up the rug and return it to the rug basket. Note: In this set, the green cylinders are the easiest to work with. The blue set is the most difficult of the four.
Extension 1: Proceed as above except use all four sets of cylinders at once and mix the four sets together on the right side of the rug.
Extension 2: As the child becomes more familiar with the cylinders he may begin to stack them to make a tower. Encourage this experimentation as it brings about an in-depth knowledge of the dimensions of the cylinders.
Extension 3: Using a three period lesson, introduce the vocabulary of size: large, larger, largest, small, smaller smallest, thin, tall, wide, etc.
Extension 4: Using the knobless cylinder extension cards, set A, and whichever cylinders are needed, proceed as above except place the card on the right side of the rug. Match the color and diameter indicated on the card. The knobless cylinder extension cards, set B are a little more challenging.
Extension 5: Encourage the children to trace the bases of the cylinders to make their own pattern cards.
Control of Error: Cylinders will fit only in intended holes in each color set. The last cylinder will not fit into the block correctly if a mistake has been made.
Presentation: Roll out a rug. Retrieve the green (or red or yellow or blue) set of knobless cylinders from the shelf and place on the left side of the rug. Remove each cylinder and randomly place it on the right side of the rug. Replace the cylinders in their respective holes. Run your finger across the top of the cylinder block and notice that the tops of the cylinders are flush with the top of the cylinder block. (This step is particularly important when working with the blue cylinders.) Return the cylinder block to the shelf. Roll up the rug and return it to the rug basket. Note: In this set, the green cylinders are the easiest to work with. The blue set is the most difficult of the four.
Extension 1: Proceed as above except use all four sets of cylinders at once and mix the four sets together on the right side of the rug.
Extension 2: As the child becomes more familiar with the cylinders he may begin to stack them to make a tower. Encourage this experimentation as it brings about an in-depth knowledge of the dimensions of the cylinders.
Extension 3: Using a three period lesson, introduce the vocabulary of size: large, larger, largest, small, smaller smallest, thin, tall, wide, etc.
Extension 4: Using the knobless cylinder extension cards, set A, and whichever cylinders are needed, proceed as above except place the card on the right side of the rug. Match the color and diameter indicated on the card. The knobless cylinder extension cards, set B are a little more challenging.
Extension 5: Encourage the children to trace the bases of the cylinders to make their own pattern cards.
Specifics: This set of knobless
cylinders was purchased from Michael Olaf Company.
The extension cards were made specifically for this set and may
not fit any other sets. Potential sources for knobless cylinders
include: Michael Olaf, Neinhuis.
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Links to view or purchase merchandise do
not consitute an endorsement by Polestar Private School.
Please exercise prudence in the purchase of any materials.
Copyright 2007, Michelle Harkey, Polestar Private School
Please exercise prudence in the purchase of any materials.
Copyright 2007, Michelle Harkey, Polestar Private School