This is one of our favorite activities. I saw it first in Montessori at Home. He has a specific set of measurements for grading the bolts, washers, and nuts, but my home improvement store didn’t carry those sizes, so I just got the biggest bolt I could find and worked my way down in increments. The associate on that row must have thought I was crazy.
Anyway, I just used a dollar store tray and sheet of foam with at least six different sized bolts, nuts, and five matching washers. I have the kids grade them according to size and then put them together. At first they tried to do it without grading, but as a larger washer will fit on any of the bolts that are smaller, they got confused, so grading is necessary.
Of course my boys HAVE to think outside the box…
And let’s don’t forget the bunny ears….
