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Cutting Practice

Incorporating Montessori Elements

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Lesson plan developed by Aurora Tollestrup, BS Ed

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Activity:  

Cutting Practice
Fine Motor Skills

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Age Group:

• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• Special Needs
  

Cutting Practice Fine Motor Skills

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Objectives:  

• Students will apply fine motor skill practice to strengthen skills
• Students will strengthen their confidence and self-concept by mastering the use of a common classroom tool

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CDA Competency Standard:   

II.4.2a

II.8.1a

• Activities and materials encourage children of varying abilities to develop their small muscles
  

b)    Individual fine motor skills are encouraged through a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities

• Children’s environments support the development of positive self-concepts
  

a)    Spaces and activities help each child develop a sense of self-identity/worth

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Materials: 

• Tray
• Child-sized safety scissors
• Colored paper with varying black lines (see photo)

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Procedure: 

1. Place pieces of colored paper with varying black lines (as pictured) in a shallow tray with a pair of child-sized safety scissors.
2. Give children a brief demonstration and explanation of how to use the scissors to cut along the dark lines. Be sure to explain the purpose of this activity, which is to strengthen their fine-motor skills and to practice their skills when using scissors.
3. Place the tray with contents on an appropriate shelf in your classroom for students to use independently.

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Assessment: 

• Observe and record any improvement in the child’s fine-motor skills with the use of scissors.
• Observe and reinforce the mastery of scissor-use by praising and pointing out the correct usage and cutting on the papers.

*  When students are able to cut along the dark lines with ease, change the dark lines on the papers, or use shapes to be cut around.

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The Montessori Classroom

This photo was found on Google images, linked here: http://munirshivji.blogspot.com/

A Montessori classroom is typically minimalist and bright, with well-organized shelves of purposefully arranged learning materials. Everything in the Montessori classroom is designed with independence in mind. The goal is for students to be able to access their materials, and more, with little to no teacher assistance. In this classroom you will not see individual desks, a chalkboard or brightly colored posters on the walls. Instead you will find mats and floor space for children to lay out their work and materials, as well as peaceful reading nooks and tables for peer work. These elements are the same, no matter what age level the classroom is intended for.

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