Metal Polishing
Materials:
Color Coded
Apron
Underlay
Cotton Ball in small dish
Flannel cloth
Small container of metal polish
A spatula/small popsicle stick
Brass objects around the room
Basket or Tray
Following Exercise
Toothpick and a small brush to remove the polish from the tight spaces
Purposes:
Fine Motor Coordination
Development of a sense of order through a sequence of activities
Independence
Age: 3 - 4
Preparation:
Polishing a table/wood and/or Polishing shoes
The child been introduced to what brass is
Presentation:
Invite one child for the lesson on polishing metal.
Show the child the materials and ask them to take the underlay and open it on the table.
Each will need an apron.
Show the child how to pick up and carry the tray, return it to the shelf and allow the child to bring it to the table.
Sit to the right of the child.
Layout the materials from left to right at the top of the mat, polish, stick, cotton ball, cloth, and sponge.
Go walk around the classroom with the child and point out several items to polish.
Select one and bring it to the table.
Open the polish and use the sick to apply a little polish onto the cotton ball.
Set the stick down on the mat, the cotton goes polish-up in the dish.
Close the polish.
Apply polish in circles over the whole object. Look to examine. Set the cotton down polish side down
Open the polish cloth and lay right four-finger backs onto the cloth in the center. Fold over the left and then the right sides, holding closed with the thumb. Fold over the top and hold with your thumb.
Buff off the polish with a fast back-and-forth movement. Show the tarnish on the cloth to the child
Remove the cloth from hand, reroll and set back up in line.
Go with the child to throw the cotton away, keeping cotton in the dish. Show them how to wipe the dish once and throw it in the trash.
Return to the table and invite the child.
Fade and observe.
When the child is complete, return to the table and remind them to throw the cotton away and to replace it with a new one.
Return the metal object.
Go with the child to the laundry and show them how to spray the soap solution on the cloth.
Show where the replacement cloths.
Repack the tray in order of use.
Invite the child to wipe the underlay.
Place the sponge on the tray and ask the child to return the tray and roll the underlay.
Remove aprons and go wash hands.
Points of Interest:
Folding the cloth to make a polishing mitt.
Noticing the change in the surface, before, during, and after polishing.
The two movements that are used: swirling on the polish and the back and forth to buff it off.
Seeing the tarnish on the cloth.
For the older child-noticing if there are dirty spots/polish still on the surface of the object.
Following Exercises:
Use a toothpick to clean the polish out of the grooves of ornate brass objects and use a small brush to clean off the excess polish.
Pedagogical Notes:
Be sure you have brass items in your environment for selection to polish. These should not be grouped together on a tray. They should be at various locations in the classrooms.
