Baric Tablets

The Baric Tablets develop the baric sense—the ability to perceive weight differences through touch, independent of visual size cues.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Sensorial
• Learning area: Tactile Discrimination
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Discriminate weight differences
• Develop baric sense (weight perception)
• Build vocabulary for weight
• Prepare for measurement concepts

Materials

• Baric Tablets: three sets in light, medium, heavy weights
• Same size tablets in different woods
• Blindfold

Instructions

1. Present tablets with eyes open first. 2. Hold tablets in palms, feel weight. 3. Grade from lightest to heaviest. 4. Match pairs from mixed sets. 5. Use blindfold to isolate baric sense.

Educator tip

Use slow, deliberate movements. The wrist muscles sense weight—rest the tablet in the palm.

Assessment

Child grades tablets by weight and matches pairs blindfolded.

More from Sensorial

• Smelling Bottles
• Tasting Bottles
• Fabric Matching Box
• Geometric Cabinet
• Binomial Cube
• Trinomial Cube
• Mystery Bag / Stereognostic Sense
• Sorting by Multiple Attributes