Thermic Tablets
Materials:
Box with compartments
Pairs of tablets of different materials such as wood, steel, felt, marble, glass, cork
Blindfold
Purposes:
Refinement of the tactile sense for temperature (thermic)
Awareness that different substances have different temperatures due to the conductivity of the substance
Age: 3 ½ - 4 ½
Preparation: The child can pair the Thermic Bottles
Presentation:
Introduction
Invite the child for a lesson on the Thermic Tablets, show them how to carry the box, return it to the shelf and have them take it to the table. You will bring the blindfold and tissues.
Sit in front of the table with the child in a chair to the left
Remove one of each of the pairs and place it along the right side of the table.
Bring one tablet in front of the child and show the inside of your wrist. Neutralize both wrists on your legs. Close your eyes or look away and feel the tablet with the right and then the left wrist.
Invite the child to feel the tablet then move to the center-left of the table to eventually make a horizontal line.
Repeat for all the tablets on the right edge of the table.
Pairing
Place the second set along the right side of the table.
Put on the blindfold, choose a tablet from the right side of the table
Neutralize writs, feel the tablet with both and move it under the first tablet lined up in the center of the table.
Compare it to other tablets in the center of the table, beginning from left to right.
When a match is identified, place them together and slide to the top of the table.
If it is not a match, proceed to the next tablet in line.
Repeat this process until all are matched neutralizing the wrists as necessary.
When all are matched, invite the child to put on a blindfold while you separate the pairs.
Fade and observe after you see the child has the idea.
Control of Error:
The child’s own judgment/discrimination of temperature and visual discrimination of color and substance of the tablet
Language: None for temperature. Language is given for the types of materials (glass, felt, steel, wood, marble, cork).
Following Exercises:
Thermic Perception with the Feet: Take off shoes and socks and have the child stand on various surfaces (tile, carpet, sand, sun, shade, grass, sidewalk).
Memory Games: None
Pedagogical Notes:
The differences are too subtle for grading.
For the following exercise- home improvement stores are a great place to get floor tiles in clay, slate, marble, wood for the children to feel.
Keep wrists clear by removing hair ties, bracelets, sleeves for this presentation.