Pink Tower
Sensorial
About This Activity
The Pink Tower is one of the most iconic Montessori materials. It consists of ten pink wooden cubes, varying in size from 1 cubic centimeter to 10 cubic centimeters. Each cube differs from the next by 1 cubic centimeter. This material helps children develop visual discrimination of dimension, particularly size, and prepares them indirectly for mathematical concepts like the decimal system.
Learning Objectives
- Develop visual discrimination of dimension
- Refine fine motor skills and coordination
- Develop order, concentration, and independence
- Prepare indirectly for mathematical concepts
Materials Needed
- 1Set of 10 pink wooden cubes (1cm³ to 10cm³)
- 2Work mat or rug
Activity Steps
1. Preparation
Invite the child to the activity. Show them how to roll out a work mat on the floor. Bring the Pink Tower cubes to the mat, carrying them carefully one or two at a time. Place them randomly on the mat.
2. Demonstration
Begin by finding the largest cube and place it in the center of the mat. Then find the next largest cube and place it centered on top of the first. Continue this process with each cube, building a tower from largest to smallest.
3. Building Technique
Show the child how to use their fingers to center each cube. Demonstrate how to hold each cube with both hands, using a three-finger grip (thumb, index, and middle finger). Place each cube gently and precisely in the center of the previous cube.
4. Child's Turn
Invite the child to dismantle the tower carefully, placing the cubes randomly on the mat. Then encourage them to build the tower themselves. Allow them to work independently, making corrections only if necessary.
5. Completion
When the child is finished, show them how to carefully dismantle the tower and return the cubes to their original place on the shelf, starting with the smallest cube. Then roll up the mat and return it to its place.
Extensions and Variations
Variations
Once the child has mastered building the basic tower, you can introduce these variations:
- Build the tower on a line drawn on a mat
- Build the tower with a blindfold (for older children)
- Create a "stair" by placing the cubes side by side in order of size
- Build multiple smaller towers using the cubes
Language Development
Use these opportunities to introduce vocabulary related to size and comparison:
- Size: large/small, largest/smallest
- Comparison: larger than, smaller than
- Position: on top of, underneath, next to
- Shape: cube, square, dimension
Parent & Teacher Notes
Observation Points
Watch for the child's grip, concentration, visual discrimination, and problem-solving approach. Note if they can identify size differences and if they self-correct when a cube is misplaced.
Control of Error
The Pink Tower has a built-in control of error: if the cubes are not placed in the correct order, the tower will look uneven or may become unstable. This allows children to correct their own mistakes.
Mathematical Connections
The Pink Tower indirectly prepares children for understanding the decimal system. The smallest cube is 1 cubic centimeter, and each subsequent cube increases by 1 cubic centimeter, with the largest being 10 cubic centimeters.