The Easel: 2 Boards is a Educational Materials Montessori material designed for children aged 3-6, crafted by Nienhuis Montessori to AMI standards.
This double-sided standing easel provides two generous work surfaces for collaborative artistic expression and language activities in the Montessori environment. The sturdy A-frame construction with adjustable height settings and integrated storage tray supports children's creative development while promoting proper posture and organized work habits.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”— Maria MontessoriEducation and Peace
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
— Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The double-sided standing easel creates a vertical workspace that fundamentally changes how children interact with drawing, painting, and writing activities. This A-frame design allows two children to work simultaneously on opposite boards, fostering parallel play and social awareness without requiring direct interaction. The adjustable height settings ensure the easel grows with children from ages 3-6, maintaining ergonomic positioning that strengthens shoulder girdle muscles essential for refined hand control. The integrated storage tray teaches children to organize their materials independently, while the vertical surface demands different motor planning than table work. Standing at the easel engages core muscles and promotes bilateral coordination as children reach across the board's expanse. The two-board configuration transforms artistic expression from solitary activity into potential collaboration, where children naturally observe peers' techniques and share materials from the central tray. This vertical orientation particularly benefits left-to-right tracking skills crucial for reading readiness, as children's arm movements naturally follow this pattern when working at shoulder height.
Each order includes everything needed for proper presentation and long-term use.
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Demonstrate how to clip paper to the board, starting at top corners and smoothing downward
Show proper stance: feet hip-width apart, standing arm's length from the board
Model large arm movements for drawing, emphasizing shoulder-initiated strokes
Practice returning materials to the storage tray after each use
Every material is carefully selected for durability, safety, and authentic Montessori experience.
The smooth plywood frame provides durability while remaining lightweight enough for classroom repositioning, supporting the Montessori principle of child-accessible furniture.
Each material supports multiple areas of child development simultaneously.
Standing work position strengthens core muscles while promoting proper pencil grip and controlled arm movements essential for writing preparation.
Double-sided design encourages parallel play and collaborative projects, fostering communication skills and creative exchange between peers.
Large work surfaces invite expansive artistic exploration, supporting children's natural desire to express ideas through drawing and mark-making.
Integrated storage tray teaches material care and workspace management, reinforcing the Montessori cycle of work preparation and cleanup.
Designed for child-sized hands
Professional tips from AMI-trained guides to maximize the educational value of this material.
“Rotate easel location weekly to provide different visual perspectives and prevent traffic pattern issues”
Pair children of similar heights when both sides are in use to maintain proper ergonomic positioning
Introduce easel work during individual presentation before making it freely available
Keep cleaning materials accessible so children can maintain the boards independently
Everything you need to know about this material.
This A-frame easel features two generous work surfaces suitable for children ages 3-6. The sturdy construction supports multiple children working simultaneously, with adjustable height settings to accommodate different ages and ensure proper posture during extended creative sessions.
The easel promotes independent work, collaborative learning, and creative expression - key Montessori principles. Children can freely choose art or language activities, work at their own pace, and engage in peer learning. The organized design with integrated storage encourages responsibility for materials and workspace.
Children can paint, draw, practice writing, create chalk drawings, display artwork, practice letter formation, collaborate on projects, and engage in language activities like storytelling or presentations. Having two boards allows for comparing work, group activities, or setting up different stations.
The easel includes the double-sided boards, A-frame stand with adjustable height, and integrated storage tray. You'll need to separately purchase art supplies like paper, paints, brushes, chalk, markers, clips or magnets for displaying work, and cleaning materials.
Built with high-quality materials for daily classroom use, this easel features sturdy A-frame construction that withstands active use by multiple children. The adjustable components are designed for repeated height changes, and the surfaces are easy to clean and maintain for years of educational activities.
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