Carrying a Mat

Material
a mat

Presentation

Introduction
The purpose and aim of Practical Life is to help the child gain control and the coordination of their movements, and help the child to gain independence and adapt to their society. It is therefore important to “Teach teaching, not correcting” (Montessori) in order to allow the child to be a fully functional member in their society. Practical Life exercises also aid the growth and development of the child’s intellect and concentration and will in turn also help the child develop an orderly way of thinking.

Lifting

1. Place your right thumb on the front of the rolled mat about 1/3 of the way down from the top (or lower if you are smaller).
2. Wrap you four right fingers around the mat so that they are under the mat.
3. Place your left thumb on the front of the rolled mat under your right thumb about 1/2 way from the top.
4. Wrap your four left fingers around the mat.
5. Lifting with the force of both hands, lift the mat from the floor so that it in now perpendicular to the floor and stand up.
6. Bring the mat in close to your body, keeping it perpendicular to the floor.
7. Walk carefully and to a specific spot (not too far so the children can no longer see you), checking regularly to make sure your walkway is clear. 

Setting Down

1. Once back at the starting point, bend down and sit on knees.
2. Place the mat down with one point of contact. This point should be the bottom part of the mat on the opposite side of your body.
3. Slowly rotate your hands away from your body so that the mat gets closer and closer to lying on the ground.
4. Remove your four left fingers from under the mat.
5. Remove your left thumb from the top of the mat.
6. Remove your right four fingers from under the mat.
7. Remove your right thumb from the top of the mat.
8. Offer each child the opportunity to pick up and carry the mat.
9. Once they have all had a turn excuse them one at a time, making sure each child has thought of what he would like to de next.

Purpose

Direct: To assist the child in coping with the movements necessary for carrying a mat.
Indirect: Development of voluntary movements.

Points of Interests
Holding the flap of the mat so that it does not unroll as it is being carried.

Age
2 1/2 onwards

Notes
For space, I have written right and left hands, but in the presentation the right hand stands for the hand furthest away from the children and the left hand stands for the hand nearest the children.