Part 30 (2/2)

The other tablets may be employed in the same way, the different kinds of triangles offering opportunity for much variety.

=Eighth Gift Plays=

The sticks may be used in representing designs in which the straight line prevails. The lines may be placed in vertical or horizontal position. Sticks may be arranged as soldiers, standing two and two in straight vertical lines; or as fences in horizontal position.

They may be cla.s.sified as to length. Let the child sort them as wood for the woodpile, putting together those of same length. Or play he is in the store to buy a cane and sees those of different lengths, some for men, some for children.

For designing give the child four sticks of one length and let him make a square. Give him four of another length and let him make a larger square. Then with these eight sticks let him make two oblongs of the same size. Give him these exercises as puzzles, but do not let him play with the sticks until he gets nervous in trying to keep them in position.

=Play With Lentils=

These are necessarily few and simple. Let the child make circles, squares, etc., by putting the lentils in rows. He can also represent the ma.s.s of a tree's foliage by placing a number of the lentils in a ma.s.s.

CHAPTER XII

KINDERGARTEN MATERIALS

The Kindergarten Occupations

The kindergarten gifts proceed, as will have been observed, from the solid through other forms to the point. The objects made with these are but temporary, and the same material may be used again and again.

Parallel with these Froebel devised what he calls the ”occupations,”

which put into permanent shape the ideas expressed by the gifts.

Among the occupations (we will not name all) are: Peaswork, p.r.i.c.king, sewing, weaving, parquetry, pasting, cardboard modeling, sand and clay modeling.

These are arranged in reverse order to the gifts; that is, they proceed from the point to the solid.

=Peaswork= (_Good well-dried peas_, _wooden toothpicks or hair-wire_)

Soak the peas for 10 or 12 hours till soft. Then make a cane of one pea and one stick.

Two peas and one stick will make a dumb-bell.

Three of each will make a triangle.

Make a square in the same way, and then by adding to this other peas and sticks a skeleton chair can be made. All kinds of furniture and geometrical forms may be thus manufactured. The wire or toothpick must be inserted in the cheek of the pea. Watch the child carefully to see that he does not get nervous over the work. a.s.suming that the peas are in good condition, there should be little trouble if the forms made are simple.

=p.r.i.c.king= (_Thin white cardboard_, _long pin_, _several folds of cloth or a piece of felt_)

Froebel recognized the appeal this pastime makes to the mystery-loving child. As sometimes used it may be injurious to nerves or eyesight; but used judiciously the child of five or six will find it a source of harmless entertainment.

<script>