Mystery Bag
Materials:
An attractive deep drawstring bag
10 objects: that feature a variety of textures and materials (such as a key, nut, cotton ball, small sponge, coin, wooden geometric shape, a small spoon, jar lid, paper clip, a rock, a pinecone, etc.) Change the objects occasionally to keep interest alive.
Purposes:
To refine the stereognostic perception.
Development of the ability to visualize mentally.
Age: 3 and up
Preparation: The child has worked with Level 2 of the Sorting Progressive Exercises.
Presentation:
Invite the child for a lesson on the Mystery Bag. Bring the bag to the table and set it in your lap.
Reach your hand in the bag and select an object.
Use facial expressions to show how you are thinking about what item is in your hand (metacognition)
Name the object before taking it out of the bag, “It feels like a...”
Take the object out of the bag to reveal/confirm the object, “It is a...”.
Place it on the table to begin a horizontal line across the table. Repeat for the rest of the objects.
Replace the objects in the bag asking the child to name them as you go. If the child does not know the name of any objects, keep those objects out of the bag.
Invite the child to hold the bag on their lap and have a turn.
Fade and observe.
Control of Error:
The child’s own judgment/visual discrimination if the item matches what they thought it was
Language: Give the names of the objects in the bag well before working with it. Offer three-period lessons for any objects the child doesn’t know.
Following Exercises:
Two Mystery Bags: bags that have the same objects in them for a pair of children to use. One child will reach into their bag and describe an object and the other child will have to find the object in their bag.
Memory Games: None
Pedagogical Notes:
Holding the bag on your lap keeps the table open for the placement of the objects.