Transferring & sorting apples into two groups
The child sorts the red and the green apples into two identical china plates.
Aim
The child gains experience of sorting items using the pincer grasp.
Objectives
- Develop eye-hand co-ordination
- Develop fine motor control/pincer grasp
- Develop concentration
- Develop independence
- Satisfy the need for order
Age
2 years+
Materials
- Basket
- Objects for transferring and sorting
- Two identical plates
- Tray
Control of error
Visual — spillage
Language
Appropriate terms — e.g. apple, stalk, red, green, transfer
The vocabulary is given after the presentation, if the child inquires.
Presentation
This is an individual exercise. The basket containing the apples should be placed centrally at the back of the tray, the china plates orderly at the front. Ask the child to watch carefully and continue in silence. Pick up the green apple from the stalk, using a pincer grasp, and transfer the green apple from the basket into the plate on the left-hand side of the tray. Then similarly pick up the red apple from the stalk, using a pincer grasp, and transfer the red apple from the basket into the plate in the right-hand side. Continue until all the apples have been transferred into both china plates. Reverse the plates so that the material is ready for the child.
Further challenges
Offer the child large tongs, chopsticks, a scoop. Use a variety of seasonal fruits to be sorted, adding baskets according to the types of food used.
Ideas
Offer the child opportunities to further practice the pincer grasp with the Montessori Knebbed cylinders. The Montessori Colour Box 2 can be used to help the child consolidate and extend the vocabulary of colours.
This exercise may offer the child an extension and exploration of apple season along with the vegetative cycle.
