Small squares of cotton or linen cloth (an old cotton sheet or something
similar can be torn into approximately 3" squares which are thrown
away after use)
Small pieces of woolen type material about 6" square (also thrown
away after use)
Small dish
Newspaper or plastic mat
EXERCISE
The child can do this work on a plastic mat which can be cleaned when
they finish. The teacher shows the child how to squeeze a small amount
of paste into the little dish. She takes a small square of cloth and shows
the child how to place it over the top of her finger and wrap it around
the sides, holding it in position with the thumb and middle finger.
The teacher dips the top of the cloth-covered finger into the dish,
getting a little polish on the cloth. She rubs this hard over a small area
of the brass object. She again dips into the polish and rubs the next small
area of the object very hard. The teacher shows the child how to repeat
the procedure.
When the child understands that the whole object must be cleaned in
this way, she leaves him/her to continue.
Picture 12
When the child has finished, the teacher again sits beside him/her,
takes a square of woolen material and rubs one area hard. She shows the
child that this spot now shines brightly.
She gives the square to the child who rubs over the entire surface.
A large object may be cleaned one area at a time and polished before
going on to the next area.
Silver tableware and other silver objects are polished in the same
way, using a non-toxic cleaner. Tableware is washed and dried after polishing
before being put away.
Picture 13
Both these exercises are also enjoyable when done as a group. The children
cover a large table, or a few small ones with newspaper. A small dish of
non-toxic paste is put between every two children. Each child has a small
cloth for rubbing on the polish and a woolen one rubbing it off and shining.
The teacher can be one of the group enjoying polishing brass or silver
objects used in the classroom.
WASHING COTTON OR LINEN
MATERIAL
A detergent powder, soap powder, or bar of washing soap
Clothes line and pins
Cotton clothes that need washing
EXERCISE
Two sinks are half filled with warm water. The temperature depends
on the type of cloth to be washed. The right amount of powder is dissolved
in one sink. The article is cleaned well by rubbing two parts of the cloth
against each other by hand. Care is especially taken to rub the dirty parts
well.
In countries where a washboard is used, the cloth is rubbed up and
down on the washboard. A washboard and a washing soap is then used and
the soap is rubbed on the cloth held against the washing board, particularly
on spotted or dirty areas. This exercise is only shown in those countries;
otherwise, the cloth is soaped and rubbed between the hands.
When the cloth is clean, it is rinsed well, wrung out and pinned on
the line to dry, preferably in the open air. Drip dry fabrics are hung
out wet.
If it is a garment to be ironed, it is brought in and rolled up in
the clothes basket while still damp. Most fabrics, however, have now been
treated so that they do not require ironing. These can be left on the line
till quite dry. The child can then be shown how to fold them and put them
away.
Linen or cotton cloth can be wrung. Other types of fabric must be squeezed
dry. Wool is gently squeezed and rolled in a dry cloth. The child learns
to wash different fabrics depending on what is used in the school. It is
important that he realize that different fabrics need different treatment.
It is helpful for a child to learn how to wash by hand even though
washing machines are mostly used today. There are still times when it is
necessary to wash by hand. The children can also be shown how to use a
washing machine.
WASHING DUSTERS, TEA CLOTHS,
CLOTH APRONS, ETC.
MATERIAL
Wool fabric
Ivory or other pure soap flakes
Clean, dry, thick towels
EXERCISE
The children have learned to wring a cloth. The children have had touch
pairing using the fabric boxes. The children have learned to recognize
the various fabrics. They have been shown the right way to wash each type
of fabric at different times.
Both sides of the sink are half filled with tepid water. The water
must be the same temperature in both sinks. The right amount of soap flakes
for the water is measured and put in the water. The water is stirred until
the soap flakes are completely dissolved.
The woolen article is completely immersed in the soapy water. It is
washed by squeezing gently, keeping it immersed at all times, until it
is cleaned. Some of the soapy water is gently squeezed out and the article
immersed in the clean rinsing water.
The article is rinsed twice in clean water and then as much water as
possible is gently squeezed out.
The article is laid on a towel and the towel rolled out to dry the
article. The article is then shaken well. The second towel is laid flat
on the ground or drying place; not in direct sunshine. The article is laid
on the towel and arranged flat in its right shape and gently pulled to
size.
WASHING VINYL APRON
MATERIAL
Dirty vinyl apron
Table or counter with formica top
Washing powder
Bowl of warm water
Sponge
Drying cloth
EXERCISE
Lay the apron flat on the table. Squeeze out the sponge in the soapy
water. Wipe the apron all over, re-soaking and squeezing out the sponge
as necessary until the apron is clean. Change washing water for clean water.
Rinse sponge and wipe over the apron with clean water. Dry the apron.
Put everything away and dry the table. Look carefully for spills and
if there are any, dry them up.
FOLDING CLOTH OR NAPKINS
MATERIAL
A number of cloths, such as table napkins or dish cloths which need
to be folded after being ironed. Some are square, some rectangular.
EXERCISE 1:
The dish cloth or napkin has a colored thread or machine line stitched
down the center of each. The teacher brings some cloths to the child's
table and sits beside him. She takes a cloth and lays it flat in front
of the child and shows him/her how to fold it along the colored line by
matching the opposite corners exactly and pressing precisely along the
line. The child practices folding cloths.
EXERCISE 2:
Square cloths with the colored line across the diagonal. The teacher
and child sit together. The teacher takes a cloth and shows the child how
to fold it exactly along the diagonal by matching the opposite corners
and pressing firmly along the colored line.
EXERCISE 3:
The child can be shown how to fold in quarters. The colored lines which
were a help at first, should not be necessary any longer. The child can
now fold washing when dry and put it away. (S)he can fold table napkins
when laying a table for a meal, either in quarters of halves or on the
diagonal.
WASHING POTS AND PANS
MATERIAL
A sauce pan
A sponge
A pot brush
A scouring pad
EXERCISE
If the class has done a little cooking, or if a hot meal is given at
school, children can learn to wash the containers used in cooking.
The washing and rinsing water is prepared. The child is shown how to
brush the inside of the pot until all particles of food have been removed,
rinsing the pot occasionally in the soapy water.
(S)he is then shown how to dampen the scrubbing pad and to scrub the
pot hard inside and out, especially the bottom of the pot, then how to
rinse the pot and stand it upside down to drain.
WASHING GLASS
Good glass, called crystal, contains lead. The lead makes the glass
sparkle. If glass is washed using a harsh detergent, the detergent acts
on the lead, it is leached out. The glass soon loses its sparkle with this
treatment. Glass must therefore be washed with a soap-based liquid if the
sparkle is to be preserved.
MATERIAL
Glasses needing washing
Soap-based liquid
Drying cloth
EXERCISE
Show the child how to prepare the wash water using the soap-based liquid.
Demonstrate to the child how to wash and rinse the glass and to dry it
at once while warm so (s)he will get a better, non-smeary result. Show
the child how to push a little of the drying cloth into the glass and to
turn the cloth around and around to polish the inside of the glass. This
must be done gently so as not to break the glass.
This is not an exercise for the very young child. This exercise is
for children who use their hands well.
NOTE:
Good glass must be stored in an upright position. It must not be stood
on its rim. The rim is the most fragile part of the glass and is easily
broken if the glass is stood upside down.
WASHING SILVERWARE
MATERIAL
A few spoons or other silverware which have been used and need washing
Dish washing liquid
Sponge
Drying cloth
EXERCISE
The teacher will ask the child to half-fill both sides of the sink
with warm water. She will show the child exactly how to squeeze the right
amount of dish washing liquid into the water in one sink. She will demonstrate
how to wash a piece of silverware and put it in the rinsing water in the
second sink.
Silverware is best dried when warm, so she will show the child how
to dry the pieces and place them in the right compartment of the silverware
drawer.
Many children are inclined to wash, rinse, and dry the same piece of
silverware over and over again. The teacher should not interfere. Children
need to practice and their natural drive is to repeat until perfect. It
does not matter if all the silverware is washed or not. When the child
finishes his/her cycle of activity, there are usually other children wanting
to wash the silverware. Otherwise, the adult can finish the work later.
WASHING FINE CHINA
MATERIAL
Materials are the same as for the silverware exercise.
Drying tray
EXERCISE
At first, only one type of china is washed at a time. The preparation
is the same as the silverware exercise. Both sinks are half filled with
warm water. The child is shown the right amount of detergent to put in
one sink and how to immerse a few plates or cups in the water. (S)he is
then shown how to take one piece at a time and rub it well on both sides
with the soapy sponge, rinsing it afterwards in the clean water and standing
it in the drying rack. The child continues until all pieces are washed
and (s)he is then shown how to dry them, stack them and put them away.
At first, children may spend all of their time washing only one plate
or mug! The aim is not to finish the work but to practice until perfect.
Children should be left to work without interruption.
WASHING A MIXED COLLECTION OF
DISHES
Children will already have learned how to wash, glass, china, silverware,
knives, pots and pans from previous exercises.
EXERCISE
The child is shown how to separate and stack the items to be washed.
Then the water is prepared with a small amount of detergent.
The child will be shown how to wash, dry, and put away:
glasses
silverware
china
knives
pots and pans.
If necessary, the wash water should be changed at any stage.
