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QUESTION 1 :
Explain the different groups of
exercises of practical life. How do you think
this group is helpful?
Answer :
Exercise of practical life are those simple daily
actions which are normally performed by adults in the
environment.
“If education is always to be conceived along the same
antiquated lines of mere transmission of knowledge,
there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man’s
future. For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if
the individual’s total development legs behind? ”
There is no limit to execution of practical life experiences
in Montessori house of children. By doing EPL children
can perform complicated everyday tasks. We follow a
systematic approach in which each child is provided with
opportunities to go through a series of simple to complex
activities. This way the child gradually steps up the
complexity level of exercises, and becomes able to
perform complicated tasks. Religious teachings and
practices can also be incorporated into EPL like how to
pray, greet others, drink water, start a task, knock at the
door, etc.
Groups of EPL :
In this section we will briefly look at the groups of EPL.

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1. Elementary Exercises
2. Exercises of Personal Care
3. Grace and Courtesy Exercise
4. Care of Environment Exercises
1. Elementary Exercises
Elementary exercises are further divided into three
groups.
I. Basic Elementary Exercises
These activities involve very basic movements, mostly
involving how hold and place objects.
II. Elementary Exercises
The moments involved in this category are bit more
complex advanced than basic elementary exercises, but
altogether they're done within a short period of time.
III. Higher Elementary Exercises
Same sort of work is involved in these exercises but they
are more logical and slightly more complex than the
previous group of exercises.
2. Personal Care
These exercises help the child to take care of himself, gain
confidence and groom himself.
Example brushing teeth, combing hair etc.
3. Grace and Courtesy
Through these activities the child learns to be polite, use
basic manner how to go around the society.

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Example table manners, how to be silent, use of thanks
you, sorry, please.
4.Care of Environment
Exercises of care of both outdoor and indoor
environments are component of this category.
Indoor : Washing dishes and dusting , arrangement.
Outdoor: Picking up dried leaves and watering plants.

Question 2 :
What are essential points that we
should keep in mind while presenting EPL ?
Answer :
The child can only develop by means of experience in
his environment. We call such experience work.
Essential Points of Presenting EPL:
The basic points are not just related to the presentation
of EPL's but will followed in making presentation of any
topic like exercises of
❖ Sensory Development
❖ Mathematics
❖ Language
❖ Handwork
❖ Culture

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The following points should be kept in mind while
presenting EPL.

Choosing Activities:
• While choosing cleaners, good quality mild and non-
toxic cleaner must be selected which are in no way
harmful for the child.

• Good quality tools, sponges, utensils and clothes

should be used.
• All cleaning tool must be kept clean and washed
regularly.
• The number of tools must not exceed the basic
minimum which means that there should not.
2. Setting up:
• The EPL area must have all things like hooks, aprons,
and dusters. The EPL area should be located near
the sink as there certain activities in which water is
needed.

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• In setting up a classroom always select furniture with
different surfaces so that the child can practice.
3. Presenting Activities Guidelines:
• A Montessori school by age of three years, EPL
should be taught to him stepwise with accurate and
intelligently.
• The directress must also known the right way to
perform it.
• We must always enjoy what we are doing before the
children.

• Evaluation:
• When the activity is complete, place the material back
with rhe help of the child. After the activity, instruct
the child to use the material when ever she likes.

Question 3:
Write a comprehension note on the
importance of practical life exercises?

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Answer:
“ These exercise improve motor control , eye hand
coordination and concentration. The practical exercises
include environmental care , personal care, dinners and
many more.”
Childern loves these practical life exercises and also taught
good work habits by being encouraged to complete whole
task. Teaching the children to be thoughtful of the rights
of other children , they are prepared for a successful
citizenship and career . The practical life activities
contribute invariably to the development of the whole
person with inner discipline, self direction and high degree
of concentration.
Aim of Practical life Experiences:
The aim of practical life exercises is to facilitate learning
though day to day work in children’s home. These
exercises are foundational to many aspects of Montessori
education. The relationship between movement and
cognition, these exercises are practicularly important
because the employ the body in service of the mind to
fulfill a meaningful goal.
According to Montessori, during the sensitive period
between age of 6 year child is counstructing his inner
peace. Based on an idea that freedom implies self-
sufficency, exercises on practical life sought to train the
growing children to master such essential skills instant
dressing, dusting and sweeping, table setting, meal and
serving. Childern under the aged three to seven play and

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work under the supervision of a teacher who doesn't act as
a passive on looker but as an active observer. They wait on
themselves while they are working, getting out the things
they want, finding a convenient place to work and then
care of apparatus when they worked with as long as they
like.
Importance of Exercises of Practical life:
Some of main purposes of including such exercises in the
classroom are :
1. To educate the children’s movements to be
geared to a purpose
2. To help childern to carry out a series of steps in
sequence
3. To endow the child with affirmating experiences
4. To enable the child appreciate independently
Two purpose of practical life exercises:
First is the dignity of work. In the children had
opportunity in the home to fold clothes, pour water, fetch
and sweeping. More importantly, children developed
competent participation around the home and rest of their
environment.
Secondly reason for the practical life exercises to enable
children to organize themselves as functional human
beings.

Question 4 :

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Try to explain “ Formal setting of table and
cooking a chick1en spread sandwich “ in the
same way we have been explained in this book
for you ?
Answer :
Formal setting of table :

Material:
▪ Butter spreader
▪ A fork , spoon and knife
▪ A drinking glass
▪ Napkin
▪ Salad plate
Presentation:

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➢ To present formal setting, gather students around the
table
➢ Place things on their right places
➢ Dinner plate should be place in the middle
➢ Put the knife on the right side of dinning plate and
fork and spoon on the left side
➢ Salad plate should place next to fork
➢ Place a glass for water at the top right side
➢ Put the napkin on dinner plate
➢ Repeat all procedure one time more.
Age Group:
3 and onwards
Chicken spread sandwich:

Exercise:
➢ 1 1/2 to 2 cups minced cooked chicken

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➢ 1 /4 to 1 /3 cup mayonnaise
➢ Salt and pepper to taste
➢ Cayenne, garlic, onion powder to taste
➢ Add veggies like cucumber, tomato, your choice
Preparation:
1. Introduce all ingredients to children
2. Then add all ingredients one by one in front of them
3.Mix them all and make sandwich
4.Now ask students to make it one by one.

Question 5 :
Write just the names of as many EPL as
possible ( that you think a child can do) and
which are not mentioned in the book?
Answer:
Success in life is directly correlated to the degree in
which people believe they're capable as well as
independent. And how do we learn to be capable and
independent? We practice the skills that are necessary
until we no longer need help and can act and do
accordingly.
Allowing children to gain independence and self-
discipline is the purpose of the practical life activities in
Montessori class room and at home. I say “home” because

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practical life activities have the purpose of allowing
students to gain independence and self-discipline. The
skills that are being taught at school are not allowed at
home thus creating dichotomy in the child’s thinking.
What happened when a child is allowed to prepare their
own snacks, pour their own drink. And you will spill that
if you pour it . At home told “Oh you're much to young to
use a knife ” .When Montessori teachers comment about
how independent a child is how he enjoys taking care of
his environment while parents shake their heads and
wonder why these skills are not being demonstrated at
home.
Montessori Practical Life Activities
Practical life activities are traditional works of the family
and home. They can be broken down into four categories.
1.Preliminary Activities: Carrying a tray, pouring
water, walking on line etc
2. Care of Environment : Cleaning, dusting and
sweeping, gardening, raking.
3.Care of Self : Dressing, brushing teeth, preparing
food, setting.
4. Grace and Courtesy : Table manners, greeting
others, saying “please ” and “thank you ”.
We must remember that “Adult work to finish a task but
a child works in order to grow and is working to create
the adult that is to be “ A child is however is working
master the activity.

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