PL 5.10Cloth Washing
The child washes, rinses, wrings, and hangs a cloth or napkin on a line to dry, using a washboard.
Presentation
- 1
Invite the child. Put on an apron. Set out basins and washboard from left to right.
- 2
Fill both basins using the pitcher.
- 3
Wet the cloth in the wash basin. Place it on the washboard and rub soap on the stained part.
- 4
Rub the cloth up and down against the ridges of the washboard. Watching the stain lift is the point of interest.
- 5
Move the cloth to the rinse basin and squeeze it several times until no soap remains.
- 6
Wring the cloth: hold one end in each hand and twist in opposite directions until water stops dripping.
- 7
Shake the cloth open and hang it on the line with two clothespins.
- 8
Empty the basins into the bucket and dry them. Invite the child to wash the next cloth. When dry, fold the cloths and put them away.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Wash doll clothes
- Iron a dry napkin with a cool, child-sized iron (with adult supervision)
- Take full responsibility for classroom laundry for a week
Control of error
Stains still visible; soap left in the cloth makes suds when squeezed; a cloth not wrung drips on the floor.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Washes and rinses until the cloth is clean and soap-free
- Wrings the cloth until it stops dripping
- Hangs, then folds and stores dry cloths