Our new complete set for the classic sensorial Montessori material, Wooden Inscribed and Concentric Figures Premium Quality, is sure to engage learners in exploring various patterns and combinations of shapes, thanks to our newly created task cards!
What are the benefits of working with the Inscribed and Concentric Figures?
There are many benefits to using manipulatives and task cards when working with plane figures. This set consists of various colors (red, green, blue, yellow) and shapes (circles, squares, triangles). It also includes large charts to help children organize plane figures by colors, shapes, and sizes. The plane figures are smooth with flush edges which enhance children’s sensorial experience. The quality is superior to plastic plane figures commonly found on the market. The texture and weight send sensorial input that keep children engaged. The figures are organized and arranged in a compartmentalized tray for convenient and easy storage.
Children may have already experienced combining shapes while playing with toys or doing crafts. While manipulating the Wooden Inscribed and Concentric Figures, children develop a different awareness of the relationships between figures. Unlike using random figures of various shapes and colors, the set is created with incrementally-designed figures and series of colors. By using such material, children are able to perceive patterns and geometric concepts such as inscribed, circumscribed, concentric, and eccentric figures.
Inscribed figures describe the relationship between shapes where one or more shapes fit perfectly in another (ex: a circle fitting in a pentagon).
Circumscribed figures describe the relationship between shapes where a larger shape encircles another (ex: a circle surrounding a decagon).
Concentric figures describe the relationship between shapes that are overlapping and share a common center (ex: a small circle set in the center of a larger circle).
Eccentric figures describe the relationship between shapes that are overlapping but that do not share a common center (ex: a small circle set along the edge of a circle rather than at the center).
How to Use the Materials
- You may demonstrate to children how to organize the materials on the working space by placing the wooden tray at the top left corner, and the Task Cards at mid-level where you can access the cards without crossing the visual field of the child next to you. Place the Large Charts aside where you can pull them out, one by one, as you demonstrate.
- Select a first Large Control Chart, the one with the circles, with the largest circle to the left. State that you will organize circles from the largest to the smallest. You may choose to appose the wooden figures above the largest circle to compare the size, then slide the figure over the matching shape on the chart. If it matches, continue selecting figures from the tray and matching. You may state that you have organized the circles from the largest to the smallest. You may replace them on the tray starting from the largest. Children are implicitly learning to work with the largest shapes first, and stacking them in a decreasing order. Continue with the Square Control Chart and the Triangles/Circles Control Chart in the same manner.
- Task Cards Section 1: This section provides work on inscribed vs. circumscribed figures. You may demonstrate all 8 cards by selecting the first card, building the pattern shown on the card using the wooden material, and reading the question aloud. A simplified answer can be found on the back, which is easy to read for a five year old child. The first four cards are meant to implicitly teach the concept of “inscribed” through observation and repetition while the next four cards implicitly teach the concept of “circumscribed” using the same overlapping figures, but with different questions. For example, if we have a large green square smaller red circle atop, we will have the questions: “Is the red circle inscribed or circumscribed?” on one card, and “Is the green square inscribed or circumscribed?” on another card. Children will begin to develop a natural understanding. However, you may explain what these concepts means for clarification and check for understanding.
- Task Cards Section 2: This section provides work on concentric vs. eccentric figures. You may go over the first 6 cards for children to have enough guided practice. They may be able to continue without much assistance with the remaining cards. This will engage them and boost their self-esteem while you may assess their understanding. The questions are yes/no questions: “Are these circles concentric?” The answer will be “yes” or “no”. The cards do not mention the concept “eccentric” as it is a complex term, but you may mention it based on the child’s understanding.
- You may invite children to use the material again independently. They can be as creative as they want with the figures by mixing figures!
We hope you and your learners will greatly benefit from our new complete set Inscribed and Concentric Figures Complete Set – Premium Quality. You may also want to check out Circles, Squares and Triangles – Complete Set (Value Line) or Circles, Squares and Triangles – Complete Set (Premium Quality).
Visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com for more authentic high quality Montessori materials.
