Pouring Into Two or More Equal Containers
Extending Pouring Skills in the Montessori Early Years Classroom
Jul 10, 2009
Pouring is a popular Practical Life activity in the Montessori early years classroom. It is first introduced to the child as pouring using identical containers. Children then advance on to a series of carefully graded pouring activities, both within and beyond the practical life curriculum area. As each pouring level is achieved, the child finds his or her skill further challenged by the next activity.
Pouring Into Two Equal Containers
In this activity, the child pours from a jug into two smaller containers that are identical. Show how approximately half the water is poured into the first container, and how the rest goes into the second container. It is therefore important to have just enough water in the original container to be shared equally by the target containers.
Pouring must be controlled to achieve this result. As the hand grows accustomed to the pouring steps, the eyes can now focus on the water level in the target containers. Clear containers are recommended for initial practice. Later on, the child can move on to target containers such as egg cups.
Pouring and the Montessori Land and Water Forms
A nice extension to pouring into equal containers is the Montessori cultural activity on Land and Water Forms. Use small round blue tubs into which are moulded three dimensional brown plasticine models that represent various land forms. In one tub, there is a brown mass in the centre. The child pours water into the tub and watches how it surrounds the brown form. The child learns that this land form is called an island.
The child goes on to pour water into another tub, sees how the water is surrounded this time by the brown plasticine and learns that the water form is a lake. Similarly, the child goes on to pour into the other pairs of containers and learn the other forms such as peninsula and gulf, cape and bay, and isthmus and strait. Through this pouring activity, the child experiences physical geography in the early years.
Pouring Into Three and More Equal Containers
The number of target containers can be gradually increased. A tea set gives the child good practice in pouring into several equal containers. Consider as well tea sets from different countries. This leads nicely to a study of different cultures. The Japanese sake set with the decanter (tokkuri) and the small small sake cups (guinomi), for example, adds an Asian flavour to the practical life shelf. The texture, motifs and shapes of the set encourage the children to practice their pouring skills further. Pouring from a sauce dispenser to a divided sauce dish is also fun. The ultimate challenge for the child is to fill up an ice-tray or a palette with equal amount of water in each compartment.
Benefits of Pouring Into Equal Containers
Pouring into equal containers not only promotes fine motor control and coordination. There are mathematical benefits as well. The children experience the concept of “equal”. They practice division and estimation. Children who do well in this exercise are also empowered to serve drinks at mealtimes, making sure that everyone has their fair share of the juice, for example.
In short, teachers can equip the Practical Life shelves with a series of carefully graded activities that develop the young child’s pouring skills. In addition, children also find opportunities to use their newly found pouring skills in a host of other activities in the Montessori classroom.
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