DIY Montessori: Nuts & Bolts Manipulative

I really love and believe in the whole Montessori approach to early childhood education; the focus on sensorial activities and life skills, letting the child lead...in my experience teaching prekinders and also with my own children, I have found that this method of education really helps children find the joy in learning. 

Having recently started doing a Montessori inspired "Tot School" with Curls, I have been spending a bit of time online looking at traditional Montessori materials, and found that a large amount of them are rather expensive for my tastes, especially for use by just Curls here at home.  Luckily, however, I have a rather handy sweetheart in Studly, who is nice enough to make me something if he feels he is able and we have the materials!

While perusing the net, I found a simple manipulative nuts and bolts board that is great for working fine motor and visual discrimination skills, and I figured it would be a quick little project for Studly to put together at home rather than spending upwards of $30 on it.  After showing him the picture, Studly agreed to give it a shot.  After seeing the results, I'd say he did a great job!

First I went out and found five bolts and some nuts that fit them in varying sizes and a small block of wood that we had laying around.  Then I left the rest up to Studly.

Studly found the drill bits to make the right size holes for each bolt and drilled the holes.

Then he set the bolts in the holes and added a little wood glue to help them stay tight and securely stuck in the drilled out holes.

That was all it took!  After I get some sandpaper and sand it down nicely, and use a little wood filler for one of the holes and got a bit messed up, it will be ready for use.  Of course, Curls won't be ready for this for a little while (at least until he stops putting everything in his mouth, silly boy!) but it will be ready when he is!  Not too bad for twenty minutes work with stuff we already had in our tool shed!