Here is our newest Montessori activity– the geometric insets.  I’ve read about them and their use in all of the books I keep checking out from the library about Montessori education, and in the books I own as well.  It was after watching this video, though, that I really saw all the potential they held for our creative family.  I’ve been struggling with helping the kids see the value in good handwriting, but using this material properly gives practice in holding and using a pencil carefully.  And it’s fun!  Just what we need.

I made them from red mat board I had left over from making my set of sandpaper (well, felt, really) letters which I’ll have to show you sometime.

I used some wooden trays I found at Joann’s (they fit perfectly in our cubbies) with some book board cut to fit at a slant to display and transport them.  The knobs are from Joann’s too.  I also made a drawing tray for Ian so his paper and inset are held in place when he traces.  It’s just 2 layers of book board, the top one with a 6″ x 6″ square cut out of the center.

The boys have all been hard at work.  Since I am insisting on them being used properly–  carefully traced and then colored in by drawing lines from left to right– Brenna is pretty resistant.  Oh well.

I used this book that was given to me by my mother in-law for instructions, along with a protractor, a ruler, a compass, and a sharp exacto knife.  I made a hexagon instead of a pentagon because hexagons just fit in geometric patterns better.

The results are lovely, and my three year old is intent on holding his pencil properly, and he’s happily occupied for long stretches of time.

(by Jonah and Logan)

(by Ian)