Objective: The Sandpaper Letters train the child's mind to be
able to write and later read. One of the benefits of the
Sandpaper Letters is that the letter is learned not only visually and
auditorily, but tactily.
Ages: 2.5 - 5
Control of Error: The child provides the control of error for
this work.
Prerequisite: The child should be acquainted with
distinguishing sounds in a word by playing the "First Sound" game.
Presentation: Retrieve a rug from the basket and roll it out
on
the floor. Select three sandpaper letters from the shelf.
The three letters selected should be distinctly different
from
one another for the first several lessons. For example, s, m,
and
t are good choices. Selecting the letters b and d, or f and
t, or
j and y together would be quite confusing for many children.
Place the first letter on the rug and introduce it using the Three-Period
Lesson,
period 1. Present the second and third letters using period 1
as
well. Next move on to periods 2 and 3 as the child
progresses.
It is not necessary to complete all three periods at once.
When the child shows signs of approaching fatigue stop the
lesson.
Specifics: This work was created at home. Sandpaper
Letters
are also available from Montessori suppliers such as Nienhuis.
Creating the Work:
Materials
List:
a printout of the Sandpaper Letters file
on plain
paper
4 + sheet
of 220 grit sandpaper
1 sheet
of blue posterboard
4 sheets
of red posterboard
black
permanent marker
glue -
white or rubber cement
ruler
pencil
scissors
- not your good sewing scissors!
Cut out
each of the Sandpaper
Letters from the plain paper. Using pencil, trace each letter
onto the rough side of the sandpaper. Cut out each letter and
set
aside. Prepare the posterboard by measuring 6 rectangles,
each
approximately 9" x 11" (make them slightly larger or smaller depending
on the box or area you will be storing them). Cut out each
rectangle. Draw a line with the marker across the rectangle
approximately 3"
from the bottom. This line represents the bottom line on
which
the letters will rest, so adjust the height of the line as necessary to
accomodate letters such as the g if you have made changes in the size
of the posterboard. Vowels are pasted onto the blue posterboard
and consonants are pasted onto the red posterboard.
Reading & Writing page ~ Montessori page ~ Polestar Private School home
page
Copyright 2007, Michelle Harkey, Polestar Private School
