Wooden Tray With 2 Unit Cups
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
A wooden tray with two unit cups, for holding the loose unit beads that every decimal exercise generates. Units are the pieces that get lost: they roll, they end up under the shelf, and a golden bead set slowly stops being complete. Two cups on a tray means the units have somewhere to be during the work and somewhere to return to at the end, which is the only reason a set survives a school year intact. Wood with metal, for ages 3 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 Wooden Tray With 2 Unit Cups exemplifies Maria Montessori's principle of providing real, functional tools sized appropriately for young hands. The tray's reinforced corners and raised edges create a defined workspace that helps children organize their movements and contain their materials during pouring exercises. The two golden-colored metal cups introduce the concept of transfer and comparison, allowing children to explore volume, weight, and careful movement through repeated practice.
- Develops controlled wrist rotation through precise pouring movements between cups
- Strengthens pincer grip and hand muscles essential for writing preparation
- Builds concentration through careful transfer of materials without spilling
- Enhances bilateral coordination as both hands work together to steady tray and pour
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The wooden tray's substantial construction gives satisfying sensorial feedback as children carry it, helping them gauge their movements and develop awareness of their body in space. The metal cups' weight and cool temperature provide distinct tactile experiences that differ from the warm wood, enriching sensory discrimination. This combination of wooden tray and metal cups creates opportunities for children to refine their wrist rotation, develop a pincer grip, and coordinate both hands working together, foundational skills that prepare for later writing and mathematical work.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the wooden tray on a low shelf at child's eye level. Fill one metal cup halfway with dry materials like rice or beans. Position both cups on the tray with handles facing outward for easy grasping.
- 1
Demonstrate carrying the tray with both hands, walking slowly to a table
Exaggerate your careful movements and pause if the contents shift, showing how to wait for stillness - 2
Sit and position the tray centrally. Grasp one cup's handle with dominant hand
Show the three-finger grip explicitly, letting the child see your thumb and two fingers - 3
Slowly pour contents from one cup to the other, tilting gradually
Pour close to the receiving cup to minimize spills and demonstrate control - 4
Return the empty cup to the tray gently, avoiding clanking sounds
Model respect for materials through deliberate, quiet placement - 5
Repeat the pouring in reverse, then invite the child to try
Step back completely, allowing full ownership of the activity
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
Wooden Tray With 2 Unit Cups
