Colour Box: 32 Pairs of Tablets for Advanced Colour Discrimination
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
A supplementary colour box holding four matching shades of each of eight colours: red, blue, yellow, purple, green, brown, pink and grey. Pairing was the earlier work; here it is grading, laying the four shades of one colour from lightest to darkest. That is a genuinely hard discrimination, and it is where a child stops seeing red as one thing and starts seeing that red has a range. Sorting shades also gives the vocabulary a reason to exist, because now there is something to name. Wooden box with tablets, for ages 3 to 6.
“Children display a universal love of mathematics, which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence.”
The Color Box of 32 Pairs represents Montessori's profound understanding of how children refine their sensorial perception through systematic exploration.
- Refined chromatic discrimination and perception of subtle color variations
- Development of visual memory and color recall abilities
- Vocabulary enrichment through precise color naming and descriptive language
- Preparation for artistic work through understanding of color relationships and harmonies
Read More
This material embodies the principle of isolation of difficulty, presenting only chromatic variations while keeping size and shape constant. Through working with these precisely graded color tablets, children develop what Dr. Montessori called 'chromatic sense' - the ability to perceive subtle differences in hue and tone. This refined discrimination supports the child's natural tendency toward order and classification, while the extensive collection allows for complex exercises in gradation and memory. The material respects the child's sensitive period for sensorial refinement (ages 2.5-6), providing concrete experiences that form the foundation for abstract thinking about color relationships, artistic expression, and scientific observation.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the Color Box on a neutral-colored mat. Ensure good natural lighting. Begin with one compartment containing 4-6 color pairs the child can already name.
- 1
Invite the child, showing how to carefully carry the box with two hands
Model slow, deliberate movements to emphasize care and respect for the material - 2
Remove tablets one at a time, placing them randomly on the mat
Handle tablets by their white edges only, never touching the colored surface - 3
Select one tablet and systematically compare it to others to find its match
Place the tablet directly beside each comparison tablet for accurate matching - 4
When a match is found, place the pair together at the top of the mat
Leave space between pairs to maintain visual clarity - 5
Continue until all tablets are paired
If child struggles, reduce the number of pairs and gradually increase - 6
Invite the child to mix and match independently
Observe without correcting - the material is self-correcting
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Colour Box: 32 Pairs of Tablets for Advanced Colour Discrimination
