Metal Polishing
Metal polishing is a tray work for a child of about 3.5: a small brass or copper object, a little mild polish and two cloths. The child dabs on polish, rubs in small circles, then buffs until the metal shines. Montessori's own children polished the brass fittings of their classroom.
Sourced from the texts, not yet presented at home
| Typical age | 3.5 to 6 years |
|---|---|
| Area | Practical Life |
| Before this | |
| Materials | |
| Direct aim | To clean and polish a metal object until it shines. |
| Control of error | The metal itself. Dull patches show what's left to do, and smears of dried polish show where buffing was missed. The black on the cloth shows the work is happening. |
| Leads to | Later lessons in this line are in preparation. |
| Time | About 15 minutes (our estimate). |
| Grouping | One child at a table, in an apron |
| Parent prep | Moderate. Put a small amount of polish in a dish and check the object is tarnished. |
| Cost | Buy about $9 to $30. Make: easy to make at home. |
| Other names | Brass polishing, Polishing metal, Silver polishing, Care of the environment: polishing |
What the work teaches
Direct aim. To clean and polish a metal object until it shines.
Indirect aims, the ones you will not see at once
- A long sequence carried out in order, from apron to tray back on the shelf
- Fine control of small circular movements
- Care for the things in the house
- Seeing the result of effort: dull metal turned bright
Set it out before you invite the child
A small tarnished brass or copper object, such as a bell or a candle holder.
A small amount of mild metal polish in a tiny dish or jar. Montessori Services sells a non-toxic natural polish. On brass and copper, lemon juice and salt also work.
A cotton swab or small cloth to apply polish, and a soft cloth to buff.
A mat to work on, a tray or box to hold everything, and an apron. Montessori Services sells a 9 by 7 inch polish box for these.
Montessori's 1914 handbook lists polishing the brasses among the jobs children did, and its films show them polishing the metal parts of a measuring stand.
Presentation, step by step
- 1Put on aprons together and carry the tray to the table. Lay out the mat and each piece in order, left to right.
- 2Pick up the object and look at it with the child. Point to a dull patch.
- 3Dip the applicator in the polish, just a touch, and dab it on one small area.
- 4Rub that area in small circles until the polish starts to dry or turn grey.
- 5Buff the area with the soft cloth until it shines. Do the next area the same way.
- 6When the whole object shines, put it back in its place in the room.
- 7Close the polish, shake out the cloth, put everything back on the tray and the apron away, and wash hands.
Details that hold the child's attention
Polish turning grey or black on the cloth as the tarnish comes off.
A shiny patch next to a dull one.
Seeing a reflection in the metal.
Putting the bright object back where everyone can see it.
How the child sees a mistake
The metal itself. Dull patches show what's left to do, and smears of dried polish show where buffing was missed. The black on the cloth shows the work is happening.
The words come after the hands
| Words | Shown with |
|---|---|
| polish | Both the paste and the action. |
| dull, shiny | Before and after. |
| brass, copper, silver | The names of the metals on the tray. |
| buff | To rub with a dry cloth until it shines. |
The three-period lesson, scripted
You need a dull object and a polished one, side by side.
| Period | What you do and say |
|---|---|
| 1. Naming | "This is dull." "This is shiny." |
| 2. Recognition | "Show me the shiny one." "Which part is still dull?" |
| 3. Recall | Point to a spot and ask "Is this dull or shiny?" |
Our suggestion, following Montessori's own pairs of contrasting words such as rough and smooth.
Extensions and variations
- Polishing a different metal: a copper pot, a brass doorknob, a silver spoon
- Shoe polishing, which Montessori's children also did
- Wood polishing with a little beeswax or oil on a cloth
- Choosing which objects in the house need polishing
- Polishing with a friend: one applies, one buffs
Variations
- Brass or copper cleaned with lemon juice and salt instead of bought polish
- Only a cloth and no polish, for a youngest child, buffing a fingerprinted object
Make it or buy it
| Material | Make it | Buy, approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Polishing Set | Easy | $9 to $30 |
Prices noted . Approximate US street prices for home-use versions; they vary by maker and change often, so recheck before buying.
Making it at home
A small brass or copper object, a cotton swab, a soft cloth, an old apron, and lemon juice with salt or a little mild polish.
What to check when buying a set
A non-toxic polish is the one thing worth buying. A box or tray to keep the pieces together is a convenience.
Printables for this age
This work needs only the material, so it has no printable of its own. The shelf plan below places it among the other works for the same age.
- Shelf plan for age 3PDF, 1 page, 250 KBEvery work for this age on one page, in order, with a column to date each presentation.
Every printable for one age, by email
The shelf plan and the lesson printables for your child's age in one email, then three short emails on the first lesson, what to make or buy, and what comes next.
Signs the child is ready, and signs it is done
Ready for the first presentation
- Has done table scrubbing and puts on an apron alone.
- Follows a sequence of several steps in order.
- Makes small circular movements with a cloth.
- Notices whether things are clean or dirty.
Ready for the next lesson
- Completes every step, cleanup included, without help.
- Uses only a little polish.
- Buffs until the object truly shines.
- Polishes household objects on their own initiative.
Fitting it into a home, not a classroom
| If you have | Do this |
|---|---|
| No brass objects | A copper coin dish, a stainless steel tap or a silver spoon works. So do a pair of the child's own shoes. |
| A toddler in the house | Keep the polish jar on a high shelf and bring only a tiny amount to the tray each time. |
| Two children | One applies polish, the other buffs, then they swap objects. |
| Worry about chemicals | Use lemon juice and salt on brass or copper, or buff with a dry cloth only. |
When it does not go to plan
| When | Try this |
|---|---|
| Far too much polish goes on. | Bring only a pea-sized amount to the tray. Show dipping with just the tip. |
| The child stops before the metal shines. | Show holding it up to the light. Let the shine itself be the finish line. |
| Polish ends up on clothes or the table. | Apron and mat every time. Show wiping the mat at the end. |
| Cleanup gets skipped. | Present the cleanup as part of the work, every time, without comment. |
Hazards to check before each session
Use a mild polish labelled non-toxic, and only a little. Many standard metal polishes contain ammonia or solvents; keep those away from children.
The adult measures out the polish. Work in a room with fresh air and wash hands afterwards.
Never polish anything sharp or heavy enough to hurt if dropped.
Where other sequences and standards place it
We have not bought the paid homeschool curricula, so they are not listed here.
| Framework | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| This site's Practical Life sequence | Lesson 12 of 12 published, after Table Scrubbing. Checked in: the scope and sequence |
| Montessori, Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook (1914) | Children sweep, dust, wash the furniture and polish the brasses; the films show them polishing shoes and the metal parts of the pedometer. Checked in: A Children's House; Motor Education |
| Montessori, Spontaneous Activity in Education (1917) | Work that preserves objects, such as dusting, washing a table and cleaning shoes, as movement suited to little children. Checked in: Chapter V, Environment |
| Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, preschool | P-PMP 3: the child demonstrates increasing control, strength and coordination of small muscles. P-ATL 7: the child persists in tasks. Checked in: www.in.gov |
Metal polishing: questions parents ask
What is metal polishing in Montessori?
A tray work in which the child polishes a small brass or copper object. A dab of polish, small circles, then buffing until it shines, with cleanup as part of the work.
What polish is safe for children?
A mild, non-toxic polish, used in tiny amounts by the child and measured out by the adult. On brass and copper, lemon juice and salt work too.
What age is metal polishing for?
From about 3.5, after simpler cleaning work like table scrubbing, and on this site it runs to 6.
Did Montessori's children really polish metal?
Yes. Her 1914 handbook lists polishing the brasses among the children's jobs, and its films show them polishing shoes and the metal parts of a measuring stand.
Sources cited by book and chapter
- Maria Montessori, Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook (1914)
A Children's House
The children themselves sweep the rooms, dust and wash the furniture, polish the brasses, and lay and clear away the table.
The children take great care of the pedometer, dusting it and polishing its metal parts.
The surfaces of the pedometer are so smooth and well polished that they invite the care taken of them, and their appearance when finished fully repays the trouble.
Motor Education
The cinematograph pictures show the children washing their faces, polishing their shoes, washing the furniture and polishing the metal indicators of the pedometer.
- Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method (1912)
Chapter VII, Exercises of Practical Life
After the care of their persons the children put on aprons, look over the room, and the teacher shows them how to use dust-cloths, dust-brushes and little brooms.
- Maria Montessori, Spontaneous Activity in Education (1917)
Chapter V, Environment
Activities directed to the preservation of objects include dusting or washing a little table, cleaning shoes and spreading out a carpet.
Reviewed by
What to offer next
This is the last Practical Life lesson published so far. The ones that follow are in preparation; until then, the Practical Life lessons page lists the whole area in order.
- Folding cloths2.5 to 5 years
- Banana slicing2.5 to 5 years
- Table Scrubbing3 to 5.5 years
- Flower arranging3 to 5.5 years
- Metal polishing3.5 to 6 years