Tactile Sense: Weight

Baric Tablets
Materials 3 sets of 7 tablets each, in 3 different weights of wood (6/12/18
grams), stain-coded accordingly; all the same size and shape.

Prerequisite tactile materials, use of a blindfold

Presentation 1 1. Invite an individual child. Show where the materials are kept
and how to carry them. Begin with the two extremes and bring
blindfolds to the table as well.
2. Take one of each tablet and place at the near edge of the table.
“What do you notice about these tablets? (child responds) There’s
something else that is different. Watch.”
3. Place all the fingers of each hand on the corresponding tablet,
slide the tablets forward and place thumbs underneath, picking
them up and turning them over so they rest on the fingertips of the
hands.
4. Gently move hands up and down to gauge the weight of each
tablet. Place the tablets back onto the tablet using opposite action
from above.
5. Invite the child to repeat.
6. Take two light tablets and repeat. Repeat with two dark tablets.
7. Make two stacks in random order of all tablets, 7 in each stack.
8. Put on the blindfold and pick up the top tablet from each stack,
one in each hand. Compare weights and place any lighter ones to
one side and heavy ones to the other side in two separate stacks.
9. Continue sorting two at a time until all are sorted.
10. Remove the blindfold and visually check for accuracy.
11. Invite the child to repeat, mixing up the stacks again.

Extension: Using a balance scale, choose an object from the environment and \
weigh/balance it on the scale with the tablets.

Exercise 1 Comparing two less contrasting sets

Follow the above procedure with the middle set and one of the
extremes.

Exercise 2 Comparing all three sets together

Follow the same procedure with all three sets. There will still be
two stacks to be sorted, one will have one more tablet than the
other and can be compared to one already sorted or to the next in
the stack.
Language Language is given in the form of a three period lesson with a
blindfold on.
 Tactile Sense: Weight
Baric Tablets

Control of Error Perceptual: in the child’s baric sense.

Visual: once the blindfold is removed.

Direct Aim(s) Baric discrimination

Indirect Aim(s) none

Age 3-3.5

Language positive, comparative, superlative for light and heavy.

Endnote(s) This is a sorting activity, not a matching/pairing one.

It is useful to have a scale in the environment.