Baric Tablets
Published on: February 26, 2026
Baric Tablets
Ages
3 to 5 years old
Materials
3 sets of wooden tablets, each set varying in weight. Each set should vary in weight by at least 5 grams. All six tablets in each set are about 3 inches by 4 inches. Each set is a slightly different colored wood and is stored in a box with a lid.
Preparation
A good idea before doing any tactile activity is to have your child wash his or her hands. This heightens sensitivity in the fingertips.
Presentation
Use the lightest and heaviest sets first. Sit facing the child. Have the child hold his or her hands off the table, palms up, fingers bent and fingertips spread out.
- Balance one tablet from the heaviest set and one from the lightest set on your child's fingertips.
- Ask which tablet is the heaviest.
- Show how to put the heaviest in one pile and the lightest in another pile.
- Repeat until your child understands the concept.
- Do the activity with eyes shut or with a blindfold.
Exercise
- Your child mixes the two sets and does the exercise while blindfolded.
- You place the tablets on his fingertips — one on each hand.
- He tells you which one is heavy and which one is light.
- When your child has mastered the lightest and heaviest pairs, move on to:
- Lighter and medium tablets
- Heavier and medium tablets
- Finally, use all three sets — heavy, medium, and light.
- Mix all tablets and sort into 3 piles according to weight.
Purpose
- Develop awareness of small differences in weight
- Build observation skills and awareness of weight in the child's environment
- Encourage deductive and inductive reasoning
- Refine the tactile sense through blindfolded work
Control of Error
When the blindfold is taken off after completing the exercise, the different colors of the sets should match — all tablets of one color should be in the same pile. If there are any mistakes, the child can see and correct them independently.
Recommended Materials
If you're adding Baric Tablets to your home classroom, here are two good options:
- Montessori Baric Tablets — Complete 21-Piece Set with Box — Three sets of wooden tablets in different weight categories, stored in a beautiful wooden box
- Adena Montessori Baric Tablets with Box — Premium natural wood set designed for sensorial development and weight discrimination