Metal Squares: 9 Plates
Nine metal frames with their bottoms, one set of insets divided into squares and rectangles and one set divided into triangles. The work is equivalence: a child lays the triangular pieces into the square frame, finds they fill it exactly, and has proved by hand that two shapes with different outlines can hold the same area. Identical, similar and equivalent stop being vocabulary and become three things the child has done. The set also serves the linear geometry work with the small metal insets. Painted metal, for ages 6 to 12.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'”
The Metal Squares' nine precision-crafted plates embody Montessori's belief that children construct mathematical understanding through concrete manipulation before abstract reasoning.
- Understanding fraction concepts through physical manipulation of geometric divisions
- Discovering equivalence relationships between different geometric configurations
- Developing spatial reasoning through arrangement and comparison of metal pieces
- Building foundation for later work with area, perimeter, and geometric proofs
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Each metal plate's geometric divisions, from whole shapes to intricate triangular subdivisions, allows elementary children to physically handle mathematical concepts of fractions and equivalence. The lifting knobs on each Metal Square enable independent exploration, as children can remove, trace, and compare the metal pieces without adult assistance. This material bridges sensorial geometry work from primary years to abstract mathematical thinking in elementary, with the metal construction providing the weight and durability necessary for repeated investigations. The Metal Squares address the elementary child's need to understand how wholes relate to parts, presenting fraction concepts through visual and tactile channels simultaneously. By manipulating these metal plates, children discover mathematical relationships through their own experimentation rather than through verbal explanation, honoring their developmental drive toward intellectual independence.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the nine metal plates on a work mat in order of complexity. Ensure adequate space for arranging removed pieces. Have tracing paper and colored pencils available.
- 1
Begin with the simplest plate showing basic divisions. Demonstrate using the lifting knob to remove one section
Let the child feel the weight of the metal piece before placing it beside the frame - 2
Remove all pieces from one plate, mixing them on the mat. Invite the child to reconstruct the original shape
Observe whether the child uses visual matching or trial-and-error strategies - 3
Compare pieces from different plates to discover equivalent areas
Use language like 'These two triangles together equal this square' - 4
Trace around the frame and removed pieces to create geometric designs
This connects to later fraction work on paper
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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