What are the colour tablets in Montessori?
The colour tablets are three boxes of coloured wooden tablets used in sensorial education. Box 1 has three pairs of primary colours; box 2 has eleven pairs of colours; box 3 has nine colours in seven graded shades. Children match pairs and grade shades from darkest to lightest, refining colour perception and learning colour names.
What this means in practice
Children hold tablets by the edges so fingers don't cover the colour.
The three boxes
- Box 1: red, yellow, blue pairs
- Box 2: eleven colour pairs including secondary colours, brown, grey, pink, black and white
- Box 3: grading shades from dark to light
Language
Use the three-period lesson for colour names and comparatives: dark, darker, darkest.
Practical next steps
- Present box 1 first.
- Show holding by edges.
- Move to grading in box 3.
- Play matching games across the room.
ExampleMeher grades seven shades of green and checks them in daylight by the window.
What to keep in mind
Check for colour vision differences if a child consistently struggles with red and green.
Common follow-up questions
What age?
About 3–5.
Can I make colour tablets?
Yes, with paint-chip cards mounted on card.
Sources
Examples are educational illustrations with made-up names. How these answers are prepared.