Dry Pouring

Materials:

Tray
2 identical transparent pitchers. Clear pitchers allow the child to see the contents change as they are poured.
One of the pitchers is filled 2/3 full with grain such as lentils

Purposes:

Age: 2 ½ - 3 ½

Preparation: The child has been presented spooning

Presentation:

Invite one child for a lesson on pouring.
Show the child the materials, how to pick up and carry the tray, return it to the shelf and allow the child to bring it to a table.
Sit to the child’s right and explain what you will do.
With your left hand grasp the handle of the left pitcher and place your right fingertips on the front of the pitcher to support it.
Lift the pitcher keeping your elbows in.
Move it over the pitcher, hovering 1-1 ½ inches from the top, and slowly begin to pour.
When it is empty, straighten the pitcher and silently set it back down on the tray.
With your right-hand grasp the handle of the right pitcher, support the front with the left, and repeat pouring in the same manner.
When it is empty, straighten the pitcher and silently set it back down on the tray.
Lift the pitcher from the tray and check for spilled lentils.
Repeat for the left but only pour a small amount before inviting the child to finish. Encourage repetition
Fade and observe

Points of Interest:

Following Exercises:

Change the contents that are being poured
Pour from handleless pitchers or cups.
Pouring from the same side- Keep both the pitchers in the air, full pitcher in the dominant hand, pour to the non-dominant. Set down the non-dominant on the opposite side and the pitcher in the dominant hand on the opposite side (the full pitcher will be on the dominant side again). Rotate the handles outward and repeat.
Pouring from a greater height.
Counting how many times they can pour without spilling.

Pedagogical Notes:

Start from the left and move to the right.
Show dry pouring before wet pouring.
You want a pitcher with a wide opening and that the handle that will fit at least two adult-sized fingers
Don’t use popcorn kernels because they bounce. Rice can make an overwhelming mess when it spills

Spooning