The Wooden Tray With 2 Unit Cups is a Accessories Montessori material designed for children aged 3-6, crafted by Nienhuis Montessori to AMI standards.
This premium wooden tray with two metal cups serves as an essential tool for Practical Life activities in the Montessori environment. The beautifully crafted tray features dovetail joint corners for durability and raised edges to contain materials, while the two golden-colored metal cups enable precise pouring, transferring, and sorting exercises that refine fine motor control.
“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 Wooden Tray With 2 Unit Cups exemplifies Maria Montessori's principle of providing real, functional tools sized appropriately for young hands. The tray's dovetail corners and raised edges create a defined workspace that helps children organize their movements and contain their materials during pouring exercises. The two golden-colored metal cups introduce the concept of transfer and comparison, allowing children to explore volume, weight, and careful movement through repeated practice. The wooden tray's substantial construction gives satisfying sensorial feedback as children carry it, helping them gauge their movements and develop awareness of their body in space. The metal cups' weight and cool temperature provide distinct tactile experiences that differ from the warm wood, enriching sensory discrimination. This combination of wooden tray and metal cups creates opportunities for children to refine their wrist rotation, develop a pincer grip, and coordinate both hands working together—foundational skills that prepare for later writing and mathematical work.
Each order includes everything needed for proper presentation and long-term use.
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Demonstrate carrying the tray with both hands, walking slowly to a table
Sit and position the tray centrally. Grasp one cup's handle with dominant hand
Slowly pour contents from one cup to the other, tilting gradually
Return the empty cup to the tray gently, avoiding clanking sounds
Repeat the pouring in reverse, then invite the child to try
Each material supports multiple areas of child development simultaneously.
Pouring and transferring activities with the cups strengthen hand muscles and develop the pincer grip essential for writing.
The focused nature of transferring materials between cups builds sustained attention and mindful movement.
Setting up and completing activities with the tray teaches logical sequencing and organizational skills.
Child-sized components enable self-directed exploration and successful completion of practical life exercises.
Designed for child-sized hands
Professional tips from AMI-trained guides to maximize the educational value of this material.
“Start with larger materials like chickpeas before progressing to rice or water—success builds confidence”
Keep a small brush and dustpan nearby so children can independently clean any spills
Rotate materials weekly (beans, rice, split peas, water) to maintain interest and provide new challenges
Observe grip development—transition from full-hand to pincer grip indicates readiness for smaller tools
Everything you need to know about this material.
The wooden tray measures approximately 25cm x 18cm with raised edges. Each golden-colored metal cup holds approximately 250ml and fits perfectly within the tray's designated spaces for stable placement during activities.
Children can practice dry pouring with rice or beans, wet pouring with water, transferring activities using tweezers or spoons, sorting exercises with different materials, and color mixing experiments. These activities develop hand-eye coordination, concentration, and prepare for mathematical concepts.
Dovetail joints create an interlocking connection at the corners that prevents separation even with frequent use. This traditional woodworking technique ensures the tray remains sturdy through years of classroom use and repeated handling by young children.
Yes, the golden-colored metal cups can be used separately for various activities like plant watering, measuring exercises, or sensorial activities. However, they're specifically designed to complement the tray's dimensions for optimal stability during pouring work.
Start with dry pouring using large materials like beans, demonstrating slow, controlled movements. Show the child how to hold the cup handle with a proper grip, pour from left to right, and check for spills. Gradually progress to smaller materials and eventually water as their control improves.
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