Language: Metal Insets Extension
Metal Insets are part of the language area in a Montessori classroom and their purpose is to prepare children for writing. The apparatus is a complete set of metal shapes (heavy and sturdy for ease of use) that children will use for tracing work – they’ll trace around the outside of their shape and thereafter trace the inside of the shaped inset. (Read a full tutorial on the Metal Insets introductory lesson on our website.
Once children have mastered the Metal Insets, there are other ways to use the apparatus to keep children interested and engaged.
The initial lesson makes use of white paper for the tracing work; the simple inclusion of coloured paper adds a fun dynamic to the activity – you could even include engaging paper/patterns according to the season or a holiday coming up (spring, Easter, autumn, Christmas etc.) for some added appeal.
Another extension is to encourage children to decorate their shapes with patterns; they could even cut out the shapes they have traced and stick them together to create unique designs – animals, buildings or mythical creatures. Have a look at the following tutorial by My Montessori Works to hear more about these applications.
If you’d like further information about this tutorial, feel free to contact us at info@saintandrewsmontessori.com. We’re happy to answer any questions.
