Montesssori Wrench Board

This practical life activity is designed for children between the age of 3 and 6 to guide them on how to use a wrench. 

Learning to use the fixed key is an exercise that teaches the child the correct way to do some household chores. Additionally, it helps to stimulate a child’s imagination through the activity of assembling, disassembling, and building.

This activity is an extension of the nut and bolt activity introduced earlier.

Montessori Wrench board

The set contains a wooden block and six bolts that screw into permanently fixed, threaded receptacles. Additionally, the board has two insets; one for the wrench and one for holding the bolts once they are removed. The wrench is made of a chrome-plated alloy and features both open-and-closed sockets for engaging the bolts. It helps children to learn how to use a wrench by removing and re-inserting six hex-head bolts using the supplied tool. 

Materials Required for the Wrench Board

  1. A small tray
  2. A board with tapped holes.
  3. Hex head screws of the proper size for the holes.
  4. A fixed key

Benefits of Montessori Wrench Activity

  • It promotes hands-on learning of basic skills required to do daily household chores.
  • It promotes the development of a certain degree of autonomy and independence.
  • It improves coordination and concentration.
  • It strengthens a sense of order and fine motor skills.
  • It provides a space for children to learn how to solve or overcome a specific challenge. 

How To Introduce The Wrench Activity To The Child?

In this activity, the child will learn to use a fixed key using a wrench.

  1. Ask the child to bring the wrench activity tray to the table.
  2. Familiarize the child with all objects that are on the tray. This also helps to develop the vocabulary of the child.
  3. Unscrew all the screws and place them in the smaller container of the tray.
  4. Keep the wrench in the bigger container of the tray.
  5. Using your hand, slowly and clearly, insert a screw into each of the holes.
  6. As shown in the video, using the open end of the wrench, tighten each screw.
  7. Tell the child this is how we tighten the six-head screws.
  8. Once all screws are tight, use the open-end wrench to loosen and remove each screw.
  9. Tell the child this is how we unscrew the screws using a wrench.
  10. Place the tools on the board and invite the child to try the activity independently.

Watch the video to show the child how to use a wrench to screw and unscrew the fixed screws.

Related Videos

To watch more Montessori practical life lessons, click here: 

Video created by: Alejandra Jurado

 

Tags

  • english language
  • Practical Life
  • primary level