Montessori Practical Life: Large Bead Stringing

Large Bead Stringing is one of the first works within Practical Life’s Care of the Environment. Lacing toys provide a powerful yet simple exercise that develops fine motor skills as well as concentration and focus.

With patterning, Lacing Beads also provide a young child exposure to early math. Bead stringing is a great activity to bring into your classroom and packs a punch with child development.

Stringing beads is an engaging activity for toddlers and preschoolers. If you’re looking for beads for kids, further down in this post are my recommendations on stringing beads for toddlers and preschoolers. Montessori Services offers a variety of bead stringing resources as well.

Watch the Lesson

Learn the Sewing Sequence

1. Large Bead String
2. Sewing Cards
3. Measuring Thread
4. Introducing Threads
5. Embroidery

Large Bead Stringing Lesson

The age of the child for this lesson ranges from 3 to 6 years old.  The lesson includes a basket of large wooden beads & laces. Finally, there are no prerequisites.

Invite child, retrieve a rug and have the child carry the basket to meet you.

Show child tip of the string: “Stiff like a needle.” Explain the purpose of “keeper” bead.

Show the child the hole. Hold the bead with sub-dominant hand and push the tip of the string through the hole with your forefinger and thumb.

• Pull the string through each bead until it meets the “keeper” bead: “Click” as each bead touches.
• To unstring, slide one bead off the string at a time and place in the basket.

• Wrap string around hand loosely and place in the basket.
• Offer the child a turn.
• Make the activity more challenging by using smaller beads

Control of Error:

• String not going through the hole
• Going through the bead more than once

Points of Interest:

• Watching the lace come through the other end of the bead
• Making a string bead necklace
• The sound of the beads hitting once another
• Using every one of the beads in the basket

Direct Aims:

• Coordination
• Order
• Concentration
• Independence

Indirect Aims:

Preparation for sewing

Language:

Tip, through, hole, sew, keeper bead

Pretty simple, right?

Marnie