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Printable lesson plan

Practical Life 12-Week Lesson Plan

A simple Montessori practical life sequence for classroom shelves, homeschool rhythm, or small-group planning. Repeat each activity as long as the child is engaged; the week labels are a planning scaffold, not a deadline.

Week	Lesson	Materials	Teacher note
1	Pouring dry goods	Two small pitchers, lentils or rice, tray	Move material from left pitcher to right pitcher with slow, controlled hands.
2	Water pouring	Small jug, two cups, towel	Pour water between vessels, wipe spills, reset the tray independently.
3	Spoon transfer	Two bowls, large spoon, beans or pom-poms	Transfer one item at a time and return materials to the shelf.
4	Tong transfer	Child tongs, cotton balls or pasta	Open and close tongs with control while crossing the midline.
5	Table washing	Small sponge, spray bottle, drying cloth	Spray, wipe from left to right, dry, and check the surface.
6	Sweeping crumbs	Child broom, dustpan, tape square	Sweep crumbs into a marked square, then into the dustpan.
7	Plant care	Small watering can, cloth, classroom plant	Check soil, pour gently, wipe drops, return the watering can.
8	Food preparation	Banana, child-safe knife, small plate	Peel, slice, serve, and clean the work space.
9	Hand washing sequence	Step stool, soap, towel	Follow the sequence: wet, soap, rub, rinse, dry, return towel.
10	Dressing frame practice	Button, snap, or zip frame	Practice one fastening slowly before trying it on clothing.
11	Table setting	Placemat guide, plate, cup, cutlery	Match each item to the guide and count one place per person.
12	Care of classroom	Shelf cloth, basket, small bin	Choose one care task, complete it, and record what changed.

Safety and setup notes

Use child-sized tools and supervise water, food preparation, and small transfer objects.
Adapt every activity to the child's readiness rather than the calendar week.
Reset trays simply so the child can repeat the work without adult correction.

Observation prompts

What did the child repeat without adult prompting?
Where did concentration break down?
Which material needs a simpler or harder variation?
What independence habit transferred into daily life?

Classroom notes