Folding Cloths-Montessori EPL Activity

Presentation

PART 1:
Prepare a large enough table for this activity. Invite 1 child to come with you by telling them you have something to show them. Tell child to bring the tray of cloths to the selected table. Have young child sit down before you. Place the tray in a position as to where the child can see your movements clearly but so that the tray will not be in your way of folding. Tell the child that you are going to show him how to fold the cloths.

PART 2: 
Place your right thumb on the top right corner of the top cloth.
Place your right index finger under the first cloth under your thumb.
Pinch your two fingers together and lift slightly.
Place your left thumb next to your right thumb.
Place your left index finger next to your right index finger.
Pinch slightly and slide your left fingers to the left along the top of the cloth until they reach the top left corner.
Secure your grip and lift slightly.
Lift both hands until the cloth is in the air and the bottom half of the cloth is hanging down.
Bring the cloth over a place suitable for the presentation.
Lower the bottom two corners of the cloth until they are just touching the table.
Slowly lower the corners you are grasping until they too are touching the table.
Lift your left index finger.
Lift your left thumb.
Move your left arm away so that the child can see your right hand movements.
Lift your right index finger.
Lift your right thumb.
Draw child’s attention to the sewed line or lines

Cloth 1

Folding

1. Place your right index finger on the top of the bottom right corner.
2. Place your right thumb under the cloth so that it is under your right index finger.
3. Pinch both fingers and lift slightly.
4. Place your left index finger next to your right index finger and your left thumb next to your right.
5. Gently pinch your left two fingers together.
6. Slide your left fingers along the bottom edge of the cloth the bottom left corner.
7. Bring the right corner you are pinching up to the top right corner of the cloth.
8. Make sure the corners line up as closely as possible.
9. Bring the left corner you are pinching up to the top left corner of the cloth and match.
10. Lift your left index finger and then lift your left thumb.
11. Move your left arm to allow the child to see the movements of your right hand.
12. Lift your right index finger and then lift your right thumb.
13. Place two left fingers firmly on what is now the bottom left corner.
14. Place two right fingers next to your two left and slide right along the bottom to the right corner.
15. Lift your two right fingers off of the cloth and then your two left.

Unfolding

1. Place your right thumb on the top right corner.
2. Place your right index finger under the top flap of the material and pinch both fingers.
3. Place your left thumb next to your right and then your left index finger next your right.
4. Gently press your left fingers together and slide them left to the top left corner.
5. Rotate the part of the cloth in your fingers toward you until they are touching the table.
6. Lift your left thumb and then your left index finger and move arm to not block view.
7. Lift your right thumb ad then your right index finger.
8. Move the cloth so that it is in front of the child and offer the child the opportunity to fold and unfold this cloth.

Once the child has successfully folded and unfolded the cloth, tell him to place it at the top left of his table so he will have space for the next cloth.

Cloth 2

Repeat PART 2 of the introduction.

Folding

1. Repeat Folding of Cloth 1.
2. Place your left index finger on the top of the cloth on the bottom right corner.
3. Place your left thumb under both parts of the cloth and under your left index finger.
4. Pinch both fingers and lift slightly.
5. Gently place your right index finger next to your left index finger.
6. Gently place your right thumb under the cloth next to your left thumb.
7. Gently pinch your two right fingers together and slide upwards to the top right corner.
8. Bring your right fingers to have that point meet with the top left point to match points.
9. Bring your left fingers to have that point meet with the bottom left point to match.
10. Lift your right hand by first lifting your right index finger and then your thumb.
11. Lift your left hand by lifting your left index finger and then your left thumb.
12. Firmly place two left fingers on what is now the bottom right corner.
13. Place two right fingers next to your left and slide upwards to the top right corner.
14. Lift both right fingers off the cloth and then left.

Unfolding

1. Place your left thumb on the bottom left corner.
2. Place your left index finger under the top part of the material and pinch both fingers.
3. Place your right thumb next to your left and then your right index next to your left.
4. Gently press your right fingers together and slide up to the top left corner.
5. Lift both hands so that the top part of the material is raised.
6. Rotate your hands toward the right until they are touching the table.
7. Lift your right fingers by lifting your right thumb and then your right index finger.
8. Lift your left fingers by lifting your left thumb and then your left index finger.
9. Repeat Unfolding of Cloth 1.
10. Move the cloth so that it is in front of the child and offer the child the opportunity to fold and unfold this cloth.

Once the child has successfully folded and unfolded the cloth, tell him to place it at the top left of his table next to the first cloth, so he will have space for the next cloth.

Cloth 3

Repeat PART 2 of the introduction.
The diagonal should be ascending toward the right.

Folding

1. Place your right index finger on the top part of the bottom right corner.
2. Slide your right thumb under the cloth and pinch both fingers together.
3. Firmly place left index finger at the very tip of the bottom left corner.
4. Lift your right hand and bring your the corner you are pinching to the top left corner.
5. Match corners as closely as possible.
6. Lift your left index finger off of the cloth and move your arm to not obstruct view.
7. Lift your right index finger.
8. Lift your right thumb and move it away.
9. Place two left fingers on the bottom point and press firmly.
10. Place two right fingers next to your two left fingers.
11. Slide your two right fingers along the fold up to the top right point of the cloth.
12. Lift your two right fingers off the cloth and then your two left fingers.

Unfolding

1. Place your right thumb on the top left corner.
2. Slide your right index finger under the flap of the cloth and pinch two fingers together.
3. Lift your right fingers until half of the cloth is at a 90° angle from the table.
4. Place your left index finger firmly on the bottom left point of the cloth.
5. Continue the rotation with your right fingers until they are touching the table.
6. Lift your left index finger off the cloth and move arm to not obstruct view.
7. Lift your right finger from under the cloth.
8. Lift your right index finger.
9. Move the cloth so that it is in front of the child and offer the child the opportunity to fold and unfold this cloth.

Once the child has successfully folded and unfolded the cloth, tell him to place it at the top left of his table next to the other cloths, so he will have space for the next cloth.

Cloth 4

Repeat PART 2 of the introduction.
The diagonals should look like an X in front of you.

Folding

1. Repeat Folding of Cloth 3.
2. Press your left index finger in the middle of the fold where the two lines meet.
3. Place your right index finger on the top right point.
4. Slide your right thumb under the cloth and pinch both fingers together.
5. Rotate your right fingers to have them meet the bottom point.
6. Match the corners as closely as possible.
7. Remove your left index finger.
8. Remove your right hand by lifting your index finger and then your thumb.
9. Firmly place two left fingers on the bottom point.
10. Place two right fingers next to your left fingers and slide along the fold.
11. Remove your two right fingers and then your left.

Unfolding

1. Place your right index finger on the top part of the bottom corner.
2. Slide your right thumb under the first folded layer and pinch your two fingers together.
3. Lift slightly and firmly place your left index finger on the point of the bottom layer.
4. Rotate your right fingers and bring the corners to the level of the top left corner but so that the ascending horizontal line is diagonally straight.
5. Release your right fingers by lifting your right index finger and then your thumb.
6. Lift your left index finger off of the corner.
7. Repeat Unfolding of Cloth 3.
8. Move the cloth so that it is in front of the child and offer the child the opportunity to fold and unfold this cloth.

Once the child has successfully folded and unfolded the cloth, tell him to place it at the top left of his table next to the other cloths.

To replace all the cloths back on the tray, replace each cloth from the most recent to the first cloth in the same manner as when taking it out of the tray.

Content Prepared by: Pratheek

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