Montessori Mom

The Knobless Cylinders are a more complex sensorial exercise that builds on the classic Cylinder Blocks (Knobbed Cylinders). Children sort solid geometric shapes by size, refining their visual and tactile discrimination. This is a wonderful material for developing concentration and spatial awareness.

Ages

3 to 5 years old

Materials

4 sets of knobless cylinders, the same dimensions as the 4 sets of knobbed cylinders, made from solid wood:

• Yellow set — same size as set 1 of the knobbed cylinders
• Green set — same sizes as set 2 of the knobbed cylinders
• Red set — same sizes as set 3 of the knobbed cylinders
• Blue set — same sizes as set 4 of the knobbed cylinders

Purpose

• Refine differences in similar shapes
• Spatially discern similarities and differences using more than one set
• Develop eye-to-hand coordination and small motor skills

Presentation

These can be built as a tower or put in order according to size (either smallest to biggest or biggest to smallest). After your child has mastered this, he or she may take two or more sets at a time.

Advanced Lesson

Your child can put the knobbed cylinders and knobless cylinders together — place the knobbed cylinder on the matching knobless cylinder. Of course, most children will eventually put the knobless cylinders in the knobbed cylinder block!

Language and Vocabulary

Use the cylinders to talk about gradation of size:

• Small, smaller, smallest
• Tall and short
• Large and small
• Wide and narrow
• Big and little

Recommended Materials

If you're adding Knobless Cylinders to your home classroom, here are two good options:

• Penepico Montessori Knobless Cylinders (Beechwood) — a complete set of 4 color-coded cylinders crafted from premium beechwood
• YHZAN Montessori Knobless Cylinders Set — 4-color set (blue, red, yellow, green) for sensorial development