Our Version of Thermic Tablets

Z is 2 years 10 months old

Montessori thermic tablets are used to develop a child's awareness of different temperatures of different materials based on their heat conducting properties. So while metals and stones are cool to the touch since they are good conductors of heat, porous materials such as wood, felt and cork aren't since they don't conduct heat very well. 

Though I don't own a set of thermic tablets, I thought it would be a good experiment to do with Z since she loves touching and putting things to her cheek to feel them. I quickly raided my stash for the things that would provide the sensorial experience I wanted, and assembled this basket of materials for her to explore.

Z would take each item, place it to her cheek and then say if it was cool or not cool. These were the various materials and textures we used.

Felt (not cool)

a thin felt block made by folding a long strip of block into a rectangle and then sewing the edges.

Stone (cool)

Steel (cool)

This is a metal 'soap' to wash off the smell of garlic from your hands (this is just a marketing gimmick, you can use a metal spoon in the same way very effectively) I spotted it in Daiso many months ago, and wanted to buy it purely for the sensorial experience. This was my chance : )

Glass (cool)

Some souvenir I had from ages ago, I let Z handle this only when I am around .

Wood (not cool)

Cork (not cool) and Rubber (not cool) 

These are not pictured in the basket as they were added later.

Z enjoyed placing the materials to the cheeks, she also explored the textures and traced the edges with her fingers. The basket will be in her shelf for a week or so, but I will keep bringing out regularly to add variety into her sensorial experiences.

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