Montessori Smooth and Rough Tablets with box

PRESENTATION OF THE MATERIAL:

• A board divided into two parts, one smooth part and one rough part.
• Another board on which five rough strips and five smooth strips alternate vertically.
• A box containing five boards with different degrees of roughness and their duplicates, gray or yellow depending on availability.
• 1 small tray containing a bowl and a towel
• 1 thermos bottle containing hot water

Example of a practical exercise:

1. Go to the shelf with the child
2. Pour the water into the cup in front of them
3. Ask them to take the tray, take the two boards yourself and sit down at a table with the child
4. Dip your fingers in the bowl of water and then dry your hands with the towel
5. Place the first board, the one divided into two parts, in front of us
6. First touch the smooth part and then the rough part. Repeat several times. Invite the child to do it in turn, beginning by dipping their fingers
7. Then take the second board, touch each strip with your fingertips, beginning at the top, and say: “smooth”, “rough”, “smooth”, “rough”, etc. until each strip has been touched. Invite the child to do the same. Then offer a three-period language lesson.

Benefits for the child:

1. Advanced development of tactile discrimination
2. Progressive refinement of sensitivity to textures
3. Strengthening of concentration and precision
4. Indirect preparation for writing and the visual arts