As promised here are some pictures of children using Practical Life materials. Note that while the actual materials change on a regular basis the skills remain consistent. There will always be hand transfers, spooning, scooping, ladeling, squeezing, pouring, stringing, twisting, care of the person and care of the environment activities represented (though not always in a strikingly obvious way at times).
Since we are in the beginning of fall we've added seeds, nut and dried corn, spiders, rubbery frogs, a jack o' lantern, fake flies and other autumnal materials around the room. Often we change the materials to match the particular season, holiday or sometimes, whatever is in Target's $1 section!
Baster Squeezing. This will move into a multiple container baster squeezing, moving liquid from one to many bowls and back again. Working those hand muscles and figuring out how to use a baster to soak up as much liquid as possible.
Such a look of determination! Using the nut driver board and it's nuts not only strengthens the hands but also requires the use of both hands, eye-hand coordination and persistence if the nuts have been screwed in tightly!
Snack, the favorite place to be! These two children have already accomplished 5 steps before sitting down to eat. Here, the children can have conversation while learning table manners and how to clean up after themselves.
The best part of marble transferring - seeing if you can get the marbles to suction to the leaf (the suctioning is the child's deviation from the lesson, not how it was presented)
