1
Practical Life Album Notes & Illustrations, Practice Sheet
“To become acquainted with the material, a teacher should not simply look at it, study it in a book, or learn its use through the explanations of another. Rather, she must exercise herself with it for a long time, trying in this way to evaluate through her own experience the difficulties of, or the interests inherent in, each piece of material that can be given to a child…” The Discovery of the Child, 152.
Exercises / Notes / Illustrations / Illustration Requirements / Practice / Classroom PresentationList of Exercises. Theory of Practical Life
Carrying a Chair / Photograph of grip of hands on chair
Opening & Shutting
a Door / No required illustration
Pouring Rice / Drawing of material
Pouring Water / 2 Exercises / Drawing of material
Folding / Drawing of the material
Drawing of the 4 types of napkins
Dusting / Drawing of material laid out with object to be dusted
Washing Table / Drawing of material as on shelf
Drawing of material set up to begin activity
Exercises / Notes / Illustrations / Illustration Requirements / Practice / Classroom Presentation
Sweeping / 2 Exercises / Drawing of material hanging on rack or wall
Care of Outdoor Environment / Drawing of the material (“Picking Up Litter’)
Polishing a Table / Drawing of the material
Polishing Metal / Drawing of the material set up with simple object to be polished
Hand Washing / Drawing of the material (top view or front view with table or stand)
Food Preparation / Drawing of the material (“Carrot Cutting”, top view or front view with table)
Dressing Frames / 7 Exercises / Drawing of each dressing frame
Clothes Washing / Drawing of the material (top view or front view with table or stand)
Sewing / Drawing of the material
Grace and Courtesy / 2 exercises / No illustration required
Notes:
Album Activities-Practical Life
Pouring Rice
Materials:
1. Small dark plain colored tray
2. 2 identical pitchers
a. Light, fragile, pour easily through spout, with straight sides
3. Rice (left hand pitcher ¾ full)
Age: 2-3 years old
Indirect Aims:
1. A Preliminary Exercise to that of pouring water
2. Indirect preparation of the fingers by picking up the grains of rice
Notes:
1. If any rice spilled, show child how to pick up one grain at a time with right hand pincer movement
2. Spooning exercise can be preliminary one to pouring rice. Not for every child but for one who has not yet had opportunities to use his hands. Should be quite unstructured since main purpose is to transfer from one vessel to another without spilling. Main points are holding spoon correctly and replacing it carefully on the tray.
Pouring Water
Materials
1. Small white or light colored tray
2. 2 identical pitchers (left hand pitcher ¾ full of colored water)
3. Small cloth or sponge
Age:
2 ½ - 3 ½ years old
Indirect aims:
1. To teach child how to pour water from one vessel to another without spilling
2. To make child aware of the necessity of the neatness of an action
P.O.I.
1. Waiting to see last drop fall
2. Seeing that no drop is spilled
Notes:
1. Some children may need a line drawn on glass for Exercise # 2
2. Basic exercises always included in room and others are rotated according to difficulty and/or need
Folding Cloths
Materials
1. Flat box attractively decorated
2. 4 folding cloths 6-10” square (same color and size, plain and neatly folded) with fold line sewn in a contrasting color:
a. Single diagonal
b. Single median
c. Double diagonal
d. Double median
Age:
2 ½ - 4 years old
Indirect Aims:
1. Training in exactness
2. Indirect preparation for geometry by subconscious absorption of dividing lines
P.O.I.:
Discovering various ways of folding
Control of Error:
The lines
Notes:
1. Give exercise when children have some hand control
2. For indirect preparation for geometry, compare with the Geometric and Fraction Insets
Dusting
Materials:
1. Basket
2. Small soft brush
3. Flannel cloth
4. Object from environment
Age:
2 ½ - 4 years old
Indirect Aims:
1. Care of environment
2. Make child aware of accumulation of dust in environment
P.O.I.:
Dust on the dusting cloth
Control of Error:
Looking for dust on surface
Notes:
1. In another basket, place several cloths to be used as a group or collective lesson
2. Good settling exercise for beginning class
3. If intricate, show child how to dust one compartment at a time i.e. Alphabet, geometry cabinet
Sweeping
Materials:
1. Small broom or rake (for outdoors)
2. Dust pan with good lip and well
3. Brush
4. Chalk/damp sponge, or sweeping guide
Age:
3 – 6 years old
Indirect Aims:
Care of the Environment
P.O.I :
1. Getting all pieces of debris inside the circle
2. Getting debris from floor to pan to trashcan
Notes:
1. Presented as needed in class rather than as a manufactured exercise
2. May show use of other types of brooms for outside work
Polishing a table
Materials:
1. Mat
2. Basket
3. Small bottle of polish
4. Small dish
5. Small sponge on a dish/tray
6. Box containing cotton pads
7. Small cloth for buffing
7. Any wooden object in environment
Age:
2 ½ – 4
Indirect Aims:
1. Care of environment
2. Exact order and purpose of each of the objects
3. Muscular action (light and energetic)
P.O.I.:
Watching change in table surface as sequence progresses
Extensions:
All wooden material in environment
Notes:
1. Distinguish between painted and varnished surfaces
2. Use non-toxic polish; if use wax, use spatula to transfer to dish
Polishing Metal
Materials:
1. Plastic mat
2. Basket
3. Polish
4. Dish for polish
5. Manicure stick (Q-tip)
6. Cotton ball
7. Small flannel cloth
8. Small sponge
9. Object from environment
Age:
3 – 5 years old
Indirect Aims:
1. Care of the environment
2. Give child satisfaction of seeing a conspicuous result of his labor
P.O.I.:
1. Dirt on the cotton ball and polishing cloth
2. Watching shine come on object
Notes:
1. Can use eyedroppers in bottles for control
2. If children polishing any piece for an eating purpose, should be washed after polishing
Washing a Table
Materials:
1. Floor cloth (towel)
2. Bucket (10 qt., good grip underneath and spout
3. Plastic tote or basket containing:
1. Soap dish with small sponge
2. Soap dish with a small cake of soap
3. Scrubbing brush (grip, real bristles)
4. Drying cloth (color-coded washcloth)
5. Floor cloth (washcloth of another color)
Age:
2 ½ – 4 years old
Indirect Aims:
1. Care of environment
2. Learn the skill of washing furniture
P.O.I.:
1. Control of hand in scrubbing close to edges of table so no drops on floor
2. Watching soap leave its trace on table
3. Seeing differences between washed and unwashed parts
Notes:
1. Approximately 2 sets for a class of 30-35. Can be done as a collective lesson for beginning class. Good sequence for particularly active children.
2. Dusting, washing, polishing tables or shelves can follow on one another.
3. Table Sponging: Not for every child but for a young, active child not yet able to concentrate on table washing. Contains some sequence and activity:
Material: Damp Sponge in a dish, Drying Cloth; similar procedure as table washing
Picking up Litter
Material:
1. Small plastic bag with a pull string
2. Rubber gloves
Age:
3 upwards
Indirect Aims:
1. Care of the outdoor environment
2. Connection to nature; Cosmic education
P.O.I.:
Getting all the pieces of litter inside the bag and into the trash can
Note:
Present when need arises in the outdoor environment
Washing Hands
Materials:
1. Medium sized pitcher and matching bowl-light china, porcelain or glass
2. Dish/tray containing soap, small sponge and nail brush
3. Small hand towel
4. Small bottle of hand lotion or cream (on a doily)
5. Supply of fresh hand towels
6. Small bucket or pail
Age:
2 ½ - 4 years old
Indirect Aims:
1. Care of person
2. Sense of order and personal cleanliness
P.O.I.:
1. Waiting for last drop when pouring
2. Drops that fall from brush
3. Cleanliness of hands
Control of Error:
1. Drips on table
2. Dirt on drying cloth
Notes:
1. This exercise is set out on a low table in the classroom without a chair; therefore, the teacher presents the lesson standing.
2. An especially good exercise after polishing or washing a table
Food Preparation (Carrot Cutting)
Materials:
1. Basket with carrots
2. Dish/bowl for washing carrots
3. Small pitcher
4. Vegetable brush on tray/dish
5. Supply of small paper towels
6. Cutting board
7. Carrot peeler
8. Small cleaver
9. Sponge on small tray
10. Dish/bowls for passing carrots
11. Apron (with the work or from central supply)
Age: 3 years
Indirect aims:
1. To provide experience in following a sequence of activities to completion.
2. To develop knowledge of food preparation.
3. To develop the moral value of sharing with others.
4. To develop facility in using a vegetable peeler.
P.O.I:
1. Cutting the carrot into uniform pieces.
2. Cleaning all scraps and water from the work space for another child.
Control of error:
1. Seeing water spill out of bowl.
2. Hurting self or another with peeler or knife.
3. Seeing slices irregular in size or shape.
4. Seeing scraps on table, tray or floor.
Notes: Set all items up left to right in the order they are used.
Apple cutting can be done at the same time and on the same table by adding apples to the basket. Child decides when he gets to table whether he wants to do an apple or a carrot. Procedure is exactly the same.
Dressing Frames
Materials:
Frames with fastenings
1. Buttons
2. Snaps
3. Zipper
4. Buckles with straps
5. Hooks and eyes
6. Bows
7. Laces
8.Hooks and laces
Age:
2 ½ -3 ½ years old
Indirect Aims:
1. To encourage care of the person
2. To give facility in fastening and unfastening clothing
3. To use the concept of one-to-one correspondence
Notes:
1. Can be displayed in several ways:
-peg board or special stand
-behind practical life exercises against molding
-vertical in an attractive box (others preferred)
2. Buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes, and buckles should be given before other frames
3. No exact rule for order of presentation – use clothing child wears plus interest as guides
4. Special care must be taken to see that frames are always in a neat, pressed, clean, attractive
condition (helpful to use spray starch)
Polishing Leather
Materials: 1. Apron (may be placed with exercise or from central supply)
32. Vinyl mat
2. Basket, containing:
a. Small container non-toxic polish
b. Polish applicator
c. Cotton ball (or cotton pad)
d. Small buffing brush
e. Sponge
4. Supply of cotton balls
5. Item made of leather (small wallet, key fob, etc.
Age: 3½ - 4 years old
Indirect Aims:
To teach the child to attend to his personal appearance and so to gain independence
P.O.I.:
Shine on the leather
Notes: Leather shoes or belts worn in the classroom can be polished.
Clothes Washing
Materials:
1. Apron (can be from a central supply)
2. Items to be set on a long, low table:
2 identical dishpans or basins
Scrub board, placed in left dishpan
Pitcher
Soap in soap dish
Sponge in soap dish
Small floor towel
Small hand towel (optional)
3. Small bucket
4. Clothes basket, with napkins or other cloth items to wash
5. Drying rack
Age: 3 years and older
Indirect Aims:
1. To learn the skill of washing and hanging clothes
2. To prepare for care of self
P.O.I:
1. Wringing excess water from the napkin
2. Leaving materials wiped clean for another child
Notes: This is a permanent set up on a long low table, large enough to hold items conveniently from left to right in the order they are used.
Paper Weaving
Materials:
1. Basket or tray
2. 5 ½ x 8 ½ inch paper, preprinted with cutting lines (see notes)
3. 1 x 5 ½ inch strips of paper in various colors
Age: 3 ½ -6 years
Indirect Aims:
Indirect preparation for sewing
P.O.I: Creating a pattern with the woven strips
Notes: Paper weavings can be made in different sizes and then laminated (to be used as coasters or
place mats). Good way to recycle watercolor papers and drawings.
Running Stitch Embroidery
Materials:
1. 6” square of burlap in an 8” embroidery hoop
2. Plastic yarn needle
3. Supply of colored cotton crochet thread on plastic bobbins
4. Scissor for cutting threads
Age: 3 ½ years
Indirect Aims:
To prepare for sewing or repairing one’s clothing or items in the environment
P.O.I.
Judging appropriate lengths to cut the threads
Creating even stiches of appropriate size
Notes: Pre-threaded needles can be provided at first.
How to Greet Someone
Age:
Upon entering the class
Indirect Aims:
1. Learning how to greet someone
2. Developing social skills
P.O.I.:
Looking the other person in the eye
Notes:
1. Emphasize the importance of extending their hand first when greeting an older person
2. Good as a lesson with a beginning class
How to Interrupt
Age:
Upon entering the class
Indirect Aims:
1. Learning how to interrupt someone else
2. Developing social awareness
P.O.I.:
Waiting to be recognized
Note: Good as a lesson with a beginning class