Montessori is a method of education that seeks to develop a child’s natural curiosity and interests. For young children, Learning Trays are one of the many tools that are used to encourage and promote this approach to a child-centered education.
Much like a typical Montessori classroom provides a stimulating yet orderly environment for a young student to explore, a learning tray provides the individual child his or her own engaging yet organized workspace. The learning tray activity and materials are clearly displayed promoting focus and concentration while providing gentle guidance. For young children, these activities are engaging and appeal to natural curiosity, as well as promote fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, writing (or pre-writing) and cutting skills. Learning trays invite different kinds of exploration, creativity and play, while allowing the child to work independently and develop essential problem-solving skills. Keeping items organized (on a tray) not only provides focus for the activity at hand, but also keeps messy activities contained for easy set up and clean up.
Learning tray activities are easy to assemble and require minimal materials. The following Holiday and Winter themed activities are appropriate for toddlers through early elementary age students. Divided trays were used to set up these activities, but a simple wooden tray or plastic tray would work as well.
Triangle Tree
Supplies:
- red and green construction paper
- glue stick
- colored pencils – to provide direction for young children limit colors to red, dark green, white, brown and gold
- small shape stencil (for preK and older)
- star or snowflake sticker (optional)
Instructions (for parent/teacher):
Simply set up a learning activity tray as shown above. Pre-cut green paper into small triangles (fold and cut square in half) for young children. The tray can be presented to the child as an activity, or set up as an “invitation to explore and create.” While stacking and gluing the triangles to represent a pine tree brings a strong sense of achievement to a young preschooler, a Kindergartner can continue to creatively decorate and personalize her stacked-triangle tree.
Circle Snowman
Supplies:
- white, black and dark blue construction paper
- glue stick
- colored pencils – to provide direction for young children limit colors to black, brown and orange
- 1″ circle punch, such as EK Tools circle punch or Friskars circle lever
- kid-friendly rounded tip scissors
Instructions (for parent/teacher):
Simply set up a learning activity tray as shown above. Pre-cut black, blue and white paper into smaller pieces (manageable for little hands) as shown. Depending on hand strength required to punch out circles, this can be pre-cut as well. Like the Triangle Tree, this tray can be presented to the child as an activity, or set up as an “invitation to explore and create.” While aligning and gluing the circles, cutting and laying out “the hat,” and using pencils to add a bit of detail brings a strong sense of achievement to a young three-year-old, a Kindergartner can continue to creatively personalize her happy snowman.
