Montessori Sound Boxes

Benefits for the child:

1. Refinement of the sense of hearing
2. Preparation for listening and music
3. Development of intelligence and concentration
4. Learning sound discrimination and association

Each cylinder holds a different material that produces a unique sound when shaken. The child must then find the pairs of identical cylinders, developing their listening and memory skills.

Key learning outcomes: • Recognizing and classifying sounds • Developing attention and concentration • Training auditory memory • Enriching sensory vocabulary

OVERVIEW OF THE MATERIAL:

• 2 boxes, one with a blue lid and the other with a red lid.
• The blue box contains six cylinders with a blue lid and the red box contains six cylinders with a red lid. Each cylinder holds a greater or smaller amount of pebbles.

Sample hands-on activity:

1. Go to the shelf with the child and say "Here, you take the red box, I'll take the blue one," then sit down at a table
2. Open the red box and place the lid underneath. Tell the child the name of the activity, take out the loudest cylinder and shake it several times near one ear, then near the other
3. Put it back on the table so the child can pick it up in turn. Repeat the same gestures with the other cylinders
4. Once all the cylinders are out, close the box and take the blue box. Open it and take out all the cylinders onto the table, then close the box
5. Take a red cylinder in one hand, shake it, then take a blue cylinder in the other hand and compare them by shaking. If they don't match, try all the blue cylinders until you find the one that matches the red
6. Take another red cylinder, shake it near one ear, then offer it to the child so they can do the same
7. Hand them a blue cylinder. If it's not the right one, offer another cylinder. Continue this way until the pairing is complete. Once done, ask the child to check all the pairs.