Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Mortar and Pestle (Egg Shells, Rice Krispies)

As parents, we all want to see our children reach their full potential. One way to support their development is through engaging and fun activities that stimulate their growing minds and bodies. The Montessori method is a popular approach to early childhood education that emphasizes hands-on learning, independence, and self-motivation. In this blog post, we’ll explore a Montessori activity that can help unlock your child’s motor skills: mortar and pestle with eggshells and Rice Krispies!

Mortar and Pestle (Egg Shells, Rice Krispies)

Suitable Age: 3+

Materials: 

• A tray consisting of mortar & pestle
• A small container
• A small towel
• A brush (toothbrush or paintbrush)
• Washed and dried egg shells/ Rice Krispies are kept in a container.

Direct Aim:

• To grind eggshells/rice krispies using a mortar & pestle independently

Indirect Aim:

• Refined movement of the muscles in the hand
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Wrist movement

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Mention to the child that when he wishes to use this activity on his own, he may take a few eggshells. (Show the child where they may be found as you are taking them). Invite the child to take the tray to the work table.
2. Once you have both been seated, invite him to remove the small towel and place it on the table. Indicate to the child to take the mortar & pestle from the tray and place it on top of the towel. Silently show the child not to move his arm while using this activity. Show the child how to hold the pestle in the palm of his hand then begin grinding the eggshells.
3. After the child sees the actions used, give him an opportunity to continue grinding the eggshells using the mortar & pestle.
4. Once he is satisfied with the outcome of the shells, invite him to empty the shells in the container provided.
5. Once the child has removed the eggshells from the mortar & pestle, he may use the brush to clean inside the mortar & pestle.
6. Once the tray has been arranged back to its original condition, invite him to take the tray back to its place on the shelf.
7. There is an opportunity to introduce some elements of Botany during this exercise. The child may want to know why the eggshells are being saved or what to do with them. Explain that “they give nutrients” to the plants because they contain calcium, like milk gives us for our bodies. The child may be asked to deposit ground eggshells into the plant soil.

Point of interest:

• Grinding big pieces into smaller pieces, the crunching sounds, the mortar & pestle, and helping to take care of the plants in the classroom.

Control of Error: 

• Moving the entire arm
• The eggshells or the Rice Krispies not being fully crushed
• Unable to hold/maneuver the pestle
• Spilling the mortar
• Unable to complete the activity
• Excessive noise while grinding the eggshells (forgetting the towel)

>> Read more: Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Prick a Shape