SE 4.01Touch Boards (Rough and Smooth Boards)
The child feels boards covered with rough sandpaper and smooth surfaces using a light fingertip touch.
Age 2½–3½Work 1 of 5 in Tactile
Presentation
- 1
Invite the child to wash and dry hands in warm water to make the fingertips more sensitive.
- 2
Place Board 1 in front of the child with the rough half on the left.
- 3
Hold the board still with your non-dominant hand.
- 4
With the pads of the index and middle fingers, stroke the rough side lightly from top to bottom several times, then the smooth side.
- 5
Give the three-period lesson: "rough", "smooth".
- 6
Present Board 2 and Board 3 on later days; for Board 3 give "rough, rougher, roughest".
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Feel the boards with eyes closed and say "rough" or "smooth".
- Find rough and smooth surfaces in the room.
- Feel Board 3 blindfolded and point to the roughest strip.
Control of error
The contrast between the textures is strong and visible; the guide checks naming.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Touches lightly with two fingertips
- Names rough and smooth
- Identifies the roughest strip on Board 3