Table setting
Setting the table needs fore-thought and the child to think of what goes where. Rather than setting things out on a real table, you can present this activity using a tray.
Teaching the child to set a table
Get a regular-sized dinner tray and set up a child’s plastic plate on your tray. Now put the plastic knife, fork and spoon where they should be around your plate. Finally, put your plastic cup down on the tray. When the plate, knife, fork, spoon, and cup are all set up correctly, take a marker, and draw around each item. You now have a tray with all the plate and cutlery places marked out and you are ready to present to the child in class. The child is ready to learn how to set a table.
Using the tray to help the child to set the table
Present first to the child, putting the plate, knife, fork, spoon, and cup onto your tray. The children watch which item goes where. Now take everything away and ask the child to set the table as you did. Once the child has set the table, then they take everything off the tray again and put everything back nicely. If they want to set the table again, they can!
Table setting in Montessori
Looking for more Montessori activities?
Here is the full list of the Montessori tasks, including preliminary, elementary, applied exercises, and grace and courtesy. Just click on the activity you want to learn about to go there.