Baric Tablets

The baric sense — the perception of weight — is refined by isolating tablets identical in size and appearance. The child must rely on the hand's memory of weight. Mismatched pairs or misgraded sequences fail the child's internal scale.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Sensorial
• Learning area: Baric Sense
• Level: Ages 4-5

Objectives

• Distinguish tablets of different weights by touch
• Grade tablets from heaviest to lightest
• Develop the baric (weight) sense
• Connect weight to different woods and materials

Materials

• Three sets of wooden tablets identical in size but made of woods of different densities (e.g., balsa, pine, mahogany)
• Blindfold

Instructions

1. Place the blindfold on the child. 2. Place one tablet from each set in the palms. 3. Invite the child to feel and compare. 4. Bounce them gently — the 'heft' is the sensation. 5. Grade the three by weight. 6. Mix the sets and match pairs blindfolded. 7. Remove the blindfold and verify by color or grain. 8. Repeat for mastery. 9. Introduce the terms 'heaviest,' 'lightest,' and 'medium' with a three-period lesson.

Educator tip

The blindfold is essential; sight dominates otherwise. Keep the tablets dry — moisture changes their weight.

Assessment

Note discrimination accuracy and consistency blindfolded.

More from Sensorial

• Thermic Tablets
• Mystery Bag (Stereognostic)
• Smelling Jars
• Geometric Solids
• The Decanomial — Layout of the Table of Pythagoras
• Cubing Material — The Power-of-3 Cube
• Trinomial Cube — Algebraic Extension
• Geometric Cabinet — Polygons Drawer