Red Rods
The child will learn to build the Red Rods from the shortest rod to the longest rod. There are ten Red Rods all varying in length, with each rod 10cm longer than the one before.
Building the Red Rods
Holding and placing the Red Rods
The directress will show the child how to hold each Red Rod correctly, holding it vertically with two hands, and placing them one by one on the floor mat. The rods must be aligned on the left-hand side of the floor mat. The directress will tell the child that we will build a ‘stair’ with the rods. The directress will find the smallest rod and place it down first, with the rod aligning to the left-hand side of the mat.
The directress then finds the next longest Red Rod and places it next to the shortest rod, running the index finger across both rods to show the child how to feel the rods. The next shortest rod is taken and the process continues until all the red rods have been built into the shape of a stair.
Control of error in the Red Rods presentation
All Montessori presentations have a control of error method at the end for the child to check that the activity has been done correctly. For the Red Rods control of error, the child takes the shortest 10cm Red Rod and places it on top of the next rod, which is 10 cm longer. The next rod + the 10cm rod should be equal in length to the adjacent rod. Each Red Rod is checked one by one with the shortest 10cm to check that the Red Rods form a perfect ‘stair’ shape.
Red Rods control of error
What do the children learn using the Red Rods
The child will learn fine motor development, alignment and judgment, crossing the mid-line, and concentration.
Looking for more Montessori activities?
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