Thermic Tablet: Individual Glass Piece for Thermal Sensation
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
One glass tablet from the thermic tablets, 8 x 4 cm, sold as a single replacement. Glass is the tablet that catches children out: it looks and feels like it should be the coldest thing in the box, and against marble or steel it is not. That gap between what a material looks like and what the hand reports is the whole exercise, and it only works while all six pairs are present. The complete set in its six compartment box is a separate item.
“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”
The Thermic Tablets embody Maria Montessori's principle of sensorial education through isolation of difficulty.
- Refinement of the thermal sense through tactile exploration
- Development of vocabulary for temperature gradations (cold, cool, warm, hot)
- Enhancement of concentration through focused sensory work
- Preparation for scientific concepts of heat transfer and conductivity
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By focusing solely on temperature perception, this material helps children refine their thermal sense without visual or textural distractions. The glass tablet, as part of the complete set, provides a neutral temperature baseline that changes based on ambient conditions and touch. This material demonstrates Montessori's belief that children construct their intelligence through sensory exploration and comparison. The concrete experience of feeling temperature differences prepares the child for abstract concepts in science while developing the discriminatory powers of the thermal sense, one of the often-overlooked sensory channels that contributes to the child's complete sensorial development.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the glass tablet on a mat or table at room temperature. Ensure your hands are at normal body temperature. Have a small cloth nearby for cleaning the tablet between uses.
- 1
Invite the child and demonstrate washing your hands with room temperature water
This ensures hands are clean and at a neutral temperature - 2
Sit beside the child and gently touch the glass tablet with your fingertips, showing concentration
Model slow, deliberate movements to encourage mindful exploration - 3
Lift the tablet with both hands and hold it against your cheek briefly
The cheek is more temperature-sensitive than fingers - 4
Return the tablet to the mat and invite the child to touch it
Observe without correcting - let the child discover the sensation - 5
Introduce vocabulary only after the child has explored: 'This feels cool'
Wait for the child to show interest before introducing language
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
Thermic Tablet: Individual Glass Piece for Thermal Sensation
