Montessori Coloured Cylinders

visual discrimination of dimensions building intelligence through the assessment of dimensions preparation for mathematics preparation for commutativity preparation for addition preparation for architecture and art

OVERVIEW OF THE MATERIAL:

• 1 red box containing ten red cylinders whose diameter varies by 5 mm and whose height is constant: 5.5 cm. (variation in two dimensions)
• 1 yellow box containing ten yellow cylinders whose diameter and height vary by 5 mm: 1 cm in height for the largest cylinder and 5.5 for the thinnest cylinder (variation in three dimensions)
• 1 green box containing ten green cylinders whose gradation is the reverse of that of the yellow cylinders (variation in three dimensions)
• 1 blue box containing ten blue cylinders whose height varies but the diameter of each cylinder remains the same (variation in one dimension)
• 2 mirrors

Sample hands-on activity:

With the red, yellow and green boxes:

1. Go to the shelf with the child
2. Sit down at a table, say the name of the activity: "These are the color cylinders, and what color are these ones?"
3. Remove the lid and place it under the box
4. Take out all the cylinders one by one slowly, close the box and set it aside
5. Take the largest cylinder and place it on our left
6. Each time choose the thickest cylinder among those remaining on the table and continue the gradation from thickest to thinnest, placing each cylinder next to the following one
7. Once it is done, look at the child and invite them to do it; to do so, mix up the cylinders again
8. When the child has finished the gradation, ask them to fetch another box, the yellow or the green one (not the blue)
9. Open the lid of the yellow box, place it underneath and take out all the cylinders one by one, arranging them in disorder on the table
10. Close the box and set it aside
11. Make the gradation with the red cylinders, then place the yellow gradation next to the red one
12. Invite the child to look at each side of the gradation, then offer them a turn at doing it
13. Mix up all the cylinders again and when the child has made both gradations by placing the cylinders one on top of the other, take the two mirrors and place each one at the end of the gradation. Ask them what they see (the cylinders to infinity)
14. Invite the child to fetch the green box
15. Arrange the yellow gradation next to the red one and invite the child to make the gradation with the green cylinders
16. Place the two mirrors on each side and look
17. Invite the child to do the same

With the blue box:

1. Take the cylinders out of the box and make the gradation, always from thickest to thinnest
2. Invite the child to do it.