Polishing/Waxing a Wooden Table
Materials:
Color Coded
Apron
Small flannel cloth for applying the polishing wax
Cloth for polishing
The cloths are the same color but differ in some way: Example: Two different prints
A small container of polishing wax
A spatula/small popsicle stick
A tray/basket
Following Exercise: Polishing a Wooden Object
Underlay
Purposes:
Coordination of Movement – contrast in movement (light/energetic)
Equilibrium
Development of a sense of order through the exact use of each item and through a sequence of steps
Independence
Age: 3 - 4
Preparation: Dusting a table
Presentation:
Invite one child for the lesson on polishing the table.
Show the child the materials, how to pick up and carry the tray, return it to the shelf and allow the child to bring it to a table.
Each will need an apron.
Ask the child to turn out the chair and place the tray on it.
Remove and unroll the cloth. The larger one is placed on the chair back and the smaller one stays on the tray.
Open the polish on the table, take a small amount with the stick, and wipe it onto the small cloth. Show the child how much polish is on the cloth.
Set down the cloth and close the polish.
Pick up the polish cloth with your right hand, turn it over, and lightly dab dots of polish across the top of the table left to right in a few rows down the table.
Left-hand braces on the table. With the right fingers on the small cloth start at the top left corner and slowly rub in circles across the table to the right edge. Lift and do the next row lower from left to right until the table is complete.
Have the child join you in bending low to look over the tabletop at the swirled polish.
Put the small cloth on the tray. Place the larger cloth on the table oriented like a diamond and fold exactly like the dusting cloth.
Grasp the folded cloth in the right hand, turn over and pull out the bottom.
Place the cloth in the top left corner of the table with the right-hand flat on top and rub in larger faster circles across left to right. At the edge of the table, lift and go back to the left side a little lower down and repeat across.
Do the whole table. Bend low to look across the surface.
If you missed a spot, rub it out.
Open the cloth, fold it in half, and place it over the chair back.
Invite the child and fade and observe.
When the child is complete, return to show cleanup.
Lay the large cloth open, fold it in half, place the small polish cloth on it and fold it over again.
Explain they need to go to the laundry and show where the replacement cloths are.
Have the child return the replenished tray and turn back the chair.
Fold aprons and wash hands.
Points of Interest:
The amount of polish on the spatula.
The sequence and specific movements used.
Seeing the swirled polish before it is buffed in.
Following Exercises:
Polishing a wooden object on the underlay
Polish wooden furniture
Pedagogical Notes:
Bee’s wax is a natural and safe wax to use.
Keep an eye out to see that the whole cycle of activity is completed, or you will have sticky tables.
Use a mesh laundry bag to wash the small cloths.
Once the child has been presented with the table washing exercise, the full table care sequence is:
Dust the table
Wash the table
Polish the table